News
Letter to Shareholders
Dear ASX Shareholder,
On 15 February 2018, ASX Limited (ASX) announced strong half-year results for the six months to 31 December 2017 (1H18). Profit after tax rose 5.1% on the same period last year (1H17) to $230.5 million and was up 7.3%, or almost $16 million, on the preceding six months. The performance was driven by higher secondary capital raisings, increased futures trading – particularly from offshore – and growth in technical services connections and customers. While cash market trading was down amid low levels of market volatility, revenue from information services increased with an expanded range of products.
ASX's expenses rose 6.7%, with an underlying increase of 3.1% that excludes some step changes such as higher rent, electricity, postage and ASIC levy costs. Our capital expenditure is expected to be circa $50 million for the full-year, with continued investment in existing and new technology
ASX notification of dividend
Update Summary
Entity name ASX LIMITED
Security on which the Distribution will be paid ASX - ORDINARY FULLY PAID
Announcement Type Update to previous announcement
Date of this announcement Tuesday March 13, 2018
ASX Monthly Activity Report - February 2018
Trading – Cash Markets (including equities, interest rate and warrant trades)
* In February 2018, the average daily number of trades was 15% higher than the pcp. The average daily value traded on-market of $4.8 billion was up 9% on the pcp.
* Volatility (as measured by the average daily movement in the All Ordinaries Index) was 0.7% in February up on the previous month (0.3%).
* Expected future volatility (as measured by the S&P/ASX 200 VIX) in February was an average of 16.3 (compared to 11.1 in January).
ASX Ltd Half-Year Media Release
Mr Dominic Stevens, ASX Managing Director and CEO, said: "ASX has achieved a strong result for the first
half of the 2018 financial year, with profit up 5.1% on the same period last year to $230.5 million and up 7.3%
- or almost $16 million - on the preceding six months. The performance was driven by higher secondary
capital raisings, increased futures trading - particularly from offshore customers - and growth in technical
services connections and data feeds. While cash market trading was down amid low levels of market
volatility, revenue from information services increased with an expanded range of products. The share of
value transacted in our premium Centre Point and Auctions services continues to grow, an indication that
customers want control over their orders, efficient execution and the deepest liquidity. Collectively, 34.5%
of all ASX on-market cash market value is now transacted through these two services.
"ASX's expenses rose 6.7%, or 3.1% excluding some step costs, such as higher ASIC levy (up 133%) and
electricity charges (up 82%), as signalled at our last results briefing. Our capex is expected to be circa $50
million for the full-year.
ASX Ltd Half-Year Results Analyst Presentation
Operating expenses increased $6.1 million, up 6.7% Underlying growth up 3.1%
• Staff costs up 2.3% ‒ Average headcount in line with 1H17 ‒ Reflects annual remuneration increases Step changes
• ASIC supervision levy increased $1.9 million, up 133% ‒ Increase due to new industry funding model
• Postage costs increased $0.6 million, up 18% ‒ Increased postage fee and higher CHESS statements
• Rent and electricity costs increased $0.8 million, up 11% ‒ New 10-year lease increased rent $0.2 million, up 5% ‒ Electricity increased $0.6 million, up 82% FY18 guidance
• Full-year guidance unchanged at approximately 8% increase
Appendix 4D and ASX Ltd Half-Year Financial Statements
The directors present their report together with the financial statements of ASX Limited (ASX or the Company) and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the Group), for the half-year ended 31 December 2017 and the auditor's report thereon. The financial statements have been reviewed and approved by the directors on the recommendation of the ASX Audit and Risk Committee. The consolidated net profit after tax for the half-year ended 31 December 2017 attributable to the owners of ASX was $230.5 million (31 December 2016: $219.4 million).The directors present their report together with the financial statements of ASX Limited (ASX or the Company) and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the Group), for the half-year ended 31 December 2017 and the auditor's report thereon. The financial statements have been reviewed and approved by the directors on the recommendation of the ASX Audit and Risk Committee. The consolidated net profit after tax for the half-year ended 31 December 2017 attributable to the owners of ASX was $230.5 million (31 December 2016: $219.4 million)
ASX Group Monthly Activity Report – January 2018
*In January 2018, the average daily number of trades was 14% higher than the pcp. The average daily value traded
on-market of $3.6 billion was down 1% on the pcp.
*Volatility (as measured by the average daily movement in the All Ordinaries Index) was 0.3% in January in line with
the previous month (0.3%).
*Expected future volatility (as measured by the S&P/ASX 200 VIX) in January was an average of 11.1 (compared to
11.0 in December)ASXMonthlyActivityReportJan2018.pdf
ASX Group Monthly Activity Report – December 2017
• In December 2017, total capital raised was $12.3 billion, up 89% on the previous corresponding period (pcp).
• In calendar year 2017, 143 new listed entities listed, compared to 133 in calendar year 2016. Total capital raised in calendar year 2017 totalled $64.0 billion, compared to $60.9 billion in calendar year 2016.
ASXMonthlyActivityReportDec2017.pdf
ASX selects distributed ledger technology to replace CHESS
ASX selects distributed ledger technology to replace CHESS
ASX today announces its intention to replace CHESS using distributed ledger technology (DLT) developed by its technology partner Digital Asset (DA).
CHESS (Clearing House Electronic Subregister System) is the system used by ASX to record shareholdings and manage the clearing and settlement of equity transactions in Australia. It was world-leading when introduced in the 1990s, providing name-on-register functionality, electronic communications and removing paper share certificates. It continues to be a robust and reliable system. ASX is now taking the opportunity to replace CHESS with a next generation post-trade platform using contemporary technology.
Today's decision follows the successful build of enterprise-grade DLT software for core equity clearing and settlement functions, and the completion of extensive suitability testing by ASX and DA over the past two years. The testing confirms ASX's confidence in the functional, capacity, security and resilience capabilities of DA's application of DLT to meet the needs of Australia's financial marketplace and maintain the highest regulatory and operational standards. The testing included two independent third party security reviews of DA's technology.
ASX-selects-distributed-ledger-technology-to-replace-CHESS.pdf
ASX Monthly Activity Report - November 2017
Trading – Cash Markets (including equities, interest rate and warrant trades)
• In November 2017, the average daily number of trades was 11% higher than the pcp. The average daily value traded on-market of $4.2 billion was down 9% on the pcp.
• Volatility (as measured by the average daily movement in the All Ordinaries Index) was 0.3% in November, in line with the previous month (0.3%).
• Expected future volatility (as measured by the S&P/ASX 200 VIX) in November was an average of 11.7 (compared to 11.3 in October).