There's nothing wrong with investing in an ASX focussed ETF or Australian companies.
History tells us that the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) returns an average of 9-10% per annum.
That's nothing to complain about.
However, it's important to understand that returns aren't linear. Rather, it isn't as simple as 9% every year.
This year, statistically, has been a softer one for the ASX 200.
At the time of writing, with a couple weeks left to go in the year, Australia's benchmark index has risen roughly 4.7%.
This is well below some other markets around the world.
So for investors looking to diversify beyond the Australian market, here is how a hypothetical investment in some overseas markets would have performed in 2025.
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Betashares Capital Ltd – Asia Technology Tigers Etf (ASX: ASIA)
This ASX ETF aims to track the performance of an index (before fees and expenses) comprising the 50 largest technology and online retail stocks in Asia (ex-Japan).
This includes global names like Samsung Electronics and Alibaba.
It also offers heavy exposure to the growing semiconductor industry fuelling the AI boom.
It's no surprise that exposure has helped this fund grow significantly in 2025.
Since the start of the year, it is up 37.82%.
That means a $10,000 investment at the start of the year would today be worth $13,782 today.
Global X Euro Stoxx 50 ETF (ASX: ESTX)
As the name suggests, this ASX ETF invests in 50 of the largest companies across the eurozone.
This includes global blue-chips like Dutch multinational corporation and semiconductor company ASML Holding N.V. (ENXTAM: ASML) and German software company SAP (ETR: SAP).
Some of the best performing markets in 2025 have been in Europe.
By country, the fund has its largest weighting towards:
- France 33.88%
- Germany 29.98%
- Netherlands 14.93%
This ASX ETF has risen 24.6%, which means an investment of $10,000 at the start of the year would already be worth $12,460.
Betashares FTSE100 ETF (ASX: F100)
Just across the pond lives the London Stock Exchange.
This ASX ETF tracks the performance of the FTSE 100 Index (before fees and expenses), which provides exposure to the largest 100 companies by market capitalisation traded on the London Stock Exchange.
This fund includes U.K based global leaders such as HBSC, Diageo and Unilever.
It has risen an impressive 21.10% this year.
That would have brought an investment of $10,000 in January to a healthy $12,110 right now.
