ASX shares have had a volatile start in 2022, whipsawed by the spectre of rising interest rates and simmering tensions on the Ukraine-Russia border. Tensions that have now boiled over into a Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory.
Despite ASX shares largely delivering strong earnings, those twin forces have seen the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) slide 7.8% in the new year.
Of course, those are very short-term moves.
Longer-term the ASX 200 remains up 22.2% over 5 years. And that's not including any company dividend payouts.
That should come as good news to the cohort of Australian female investors who intend to invest for a decade or longer.
And, according to a new global survey by online multi-asset investment platform eToro, fully 32% of women respondents plan to do just that.
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ASX shares top Aussie women's investments
While the survey was global, we'll stick to the local results.
Atop the propensity for a longer-term horizon, ASX shares topped the list of investments for Aussie women at 48%.
Did you take a guess at what came second?
If you answered cryptocurrencies, give yourself a gold star.
Cryptos came in a close second to ASX shares at 45%. The safety of cash also holds allure at 26%. International shares, while popular, trailed ASX shares at 21%.
Asked whether they view investing as part of their household budget, 74% of Australian women answered yes.
Meanwhile 64% said they'd like to see more female role models who talk about investing; and 57% would like more education, both in schools and on the internet. 31% of Aussie women cited "know what to invest in" as the biggest hurdle about investing.
How are women planning to invest in 2022?
Asked where they believed are the best investment opportunities over the next 3 months, Australian women said:
- Technology – 39%
- Green energy and renewables – 39%
- Healthcare – 32%
- Real estate – 32%
- Financial services – 18%
As for why they invest in ASX shares, cryptos and other assets, 22% of Australian women said it's for long-term security. 22% also want to achieve financial independence while 10% are looking to supplement their basic income. That careful, research-driven approach increasingly shapes how women handle discretionary spending as well — before setting aside any entertainment budget, many consult the same kind of comparison guides they rely on for ETFs or super funds. In the online gaming space, for instance, roundups like Try Out These Casinos Not on Gamstop (2026) have found a growing readership among women who prefer to study the landscape before committing a dollar anywhere.
Commenting on the survey results, eToro's deputy CEO, Hedva Ber said:
Female investors are using investing as a powerful lever to secure their futures, boost income, and/or to build net wealth. It is clear from the research that female investors are carving out their own future, and building for the long-term, something which is to be celebrated.
