Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

Rate the ABS website
ABS Home > Statistics > By Catalogue Number
1360.0 - Measuring Australia's Economy, 2003  
Latest ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 03/02/2003   
   Page tools: Print Print Page RSS Feed RSS Bookmark and Share Search this Product  
Contents >> Section 3. International Accounts and Trade >> Australian Investment Abroad

At 30 June 2002, Australian investment abroad totalled $453.9b of which portfolio investment was $159.3b (35% of total Australian investment abroad), direct investment was $153.4b (34%), other investment $73.8b (16%), reserve assets $37.4b (8%) and financial derivatives $30.0b (7%) .

Over the period 30 June 1997 to 30 June 2002, financial derivatives increased 224% (from $9.3b at 30 June 1997 to $30.0b at June 2002) portfolio investment increased 160% (from $61.2b at to $159.3b), direct investment increased 72% (from $89.0b to $153.4b), other investment assets 88% (from $39.3b to $73.8b) and reserve assets 65% (from $22.8b to $37.4b).

The proportional split of total Australian investment abroad into direct investment, portfolio investment, financial derivatives, other investment assets and reserve assets remained relatively stable over the period 1996-1997 to 1999-2000; however for 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 there was a shift away from direct investment to portfolio investment. During this period direct investment decreased by 6% whilst portfolio investment increased by 3%.




LEVEL OF AUSTRALIAN INVESTMENT ABROAD AT END OF PERIOD
Period
Direct

$m
Portfolio

$m
Financial derivatives

$m
Other

$m
Reserve
assets

$m
Total

$m
ANNUAL
1996–1997
-88,999
-61,164
-9,265
-39,326
-22,791
-221,545
1997–1998
-125,580
-71,962
-14,357
-54,134
-24,260
-290,293
1998–1999
-129,465
-87,196
-15,529
-57,215
-23,954
-313,359
1999–2000
-178,284
-126,738
-18,658
-58,856
-27,948
-410,484
2000-2001
-181,788
-150,041
-23,802
-68,571
-37,951
-462,154
2001-2002
-153,371
-159,269
-30,030
-73,772
-37,435
-453,877
QUARTERLY
2000-2001
March
-160,820
-147,326
-34,998
-74,869
-35,306
-453,320
June
-181,788
-150,041
-23,802
-68,571
-37,951
-462,154
2001-2002
September
-157,079
-140,403
-33,340
-68,668
-39,216
-438,707
December
-178,911
-155,409
-28,933
-69,995
-36,549
-469,797
March
-171,386
-162,129
-23,730
-74,442
-33,117
-464,804
June
-153,371
-159,269
-30,030
-73,772
-37,435
-453,877
Source: Balance of Payments and International Investment Position (5302.0).


Explanatory Notes

Australian investment abroad generally refers to the stock of foreign financial assets (claims on non-residents) owned by Australian residents; and to the capital transactions and other changes which increase or decrease this stock. In balance of payments presentation, Australian investment abroad is shown with a negative sign.

There are five types of Australian investment abroad. Four of these are - direct, portfolio, financial derivatives and other investment. The fifth type is reserve assets. Reserve assets are foreign financial assets available to, and controlled by, the monetary authorities (principally the Reserve Bank of Australia) for financing or regulating payments, imbalances and other purposes.

Australians invest in foreign countries for a variety of reasons including: the securing and maintenance of market share, sales promotion, effective marketing, avoidance of foreign tariffs and import restrictions, securing of raw materials and to take advantage of cheaper inputs or higher rates of return on investments or to spread their risk.

Previous PageNext Page

Bookmark and Share. Opens in a new window

© Commonwealth of Australia 2013

Unless otherwise noted, content on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia Licence together with any terms, conditions and exclusions as set out in the website Copyright notice. For permission to do anything beyond the scope of this licence and copyright terms contact us.