ASX has launched Australia’s first exchange-traded Bond and Credit Index Futures in collaboration with Bloomberg Indices, offering institutional investors a streamlined approach to managing exposure to Australian fixed income markets. The contracts, which began trading on 24 August 2026, are based on two widely adopted Bloomberg AusBond benchmarks and represent a significant expansion of the exchange’s interest rate derivatives offering.
- Underlying Indices: Bloomberg AusBond Composite Index (BACM0) and Bloomberg AusBond Credit Index (BACR0)
- Assets Tracked: More than A$60 billion across both indices
- Index Establishment: 1989
- Trading Venue: ASX 24, cash-settled
- Target Users: Banks, asset managers, ETF issuers, superannuation funds, proprietary trading firms
The composite index tracks a broad portfolio of Australian bonds including government, semi-government, supranational and corporate bonds, while the credit index focuses exclusively on Australian corporate bonds. Both indices serve as established benchmarks across Australia’s institutional investment market and are utilised by asset managers, ETF issuers, superannuation funds and other major market participants. The futures contracts enable investors to gain or manage exposure without purchasing individual bonds, streamlining portfolio hedging, liquidity management and cash equitisation strategies.
The launch follows extensive engagement with domestic and international market participants and reflects growing global demand for fixed income index futures. Similar products have gained traction in offshore markets, signalling increased appetite for exchange-traded tools linked to fixed income and credit benchmarks. Daniel Sinclair, ASX Acting Group Executive, Markets, characterised the launch as an important evolution of the exchange’s interest rate derivatives offering, combining ASX’s infrastructure with Bloomberg’s benchmark and analytics capabilities.
ASX Limited operates Australia’s primary securities exchange and derivatives markets, serving institutional and retail investors. Bloomberg Indices provides benchmarks and analytics used extensively across global fixed income markets.
Daniel Sinclair, ASX Acting Group Executive, Markets. Source: LinkedIn
