BetaShares Capital Limited (BetaShares) has announced the launch of the first diversified commodities basket Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) on the Australian Securities Exchange – expanding the investment options available to Australian retail and institutional investors.

The ETF will trade under the ASX code ‘QCB’ and aims to track the performance of the S&P GSCI Light Energy Index.

The Index is a diversified commodity index that tracks the futures’ performance of 24 commodities, including six energy, seven metals, eight agricultural and three livestock commodities.

Drew Corbett, Head of Investment Strategy at BetaShares, said the Commodities Basket ETF will provide Australian investors access to a broad range of diversified commodities in a single trade on the ASX.

The ETF provides an opportunity for investors to diversify their existing portfolios. “While most Australian investors are heavily invested in resources companies and may question the need for further commodities exposures, the ETF does not have allocations to coal, iron ore or manganese, which are common export products for Australian miners,” Mr Corbett said.

The BetaShares Commodities Basket ETF is also currency hedged, substantially eliminating the impact of movements in the AUD/USD exchange rate to provide a pure commodities exposure.

Further information can be found at www.betashares.com.au and www.asx.com.au.