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The S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries index saw a price return of *** Australian dollars in July 2023. Due to the financial effects of the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the price return for the index decreased significantly between the end of February and the end of March 2020.

ASX index performance affected by the coronavirus pandemic

The S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries index is a key benchmark for small-cap Australian companies. The index measures companies included in the S&P/ASX 300 but not in the S&P/ASX 100. In comparison, the S&P/ASX 200 index measures the performance of the *** largest companies listed on the ASX. Due to the financial effects of the global coronavirus pandemic, it lost more than one-fifth of its value between the end of February and the end of March 2020. Since then, it has improved and surpassed its pre-corona level with its value peaking around *** thousand index points in August 2021.

Financial markets in Australia

Financial markets in Australia are an integral part of the country's economy. The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) is the country's primary stock exchange and, as of December 2022, it had a domestic market capitalization of approximately **** trillion Australian dollars. As of April 2023, the largest company listed on the ASX was BHP Group Limited, with a total market capitalization of over *** billion Australian dollars. The financial sector dominated the list of the largest Australian domestic companies, with **** of the top 10 companies being either retail or investment banking groups. Overall, financial markets in Australia are diverse, and robust, attracting both local and international investors.