All Ord Chart: Live Data, Hi torical Performance & Key Fact

For anyone tracking Australian shares, the All Ordinaries chart is the first thing they check each morning. It shows whether the market is up, down, or flat, and over time it reveals the long‑term story of Australia’s largest companies.

Current Value: 8,881.80 ·
YTD Change: -0.38% ·
All-Time High: 7,573.3 (1 Nov 2007) ·
Constituents: 500 ·
Launch Year: 1980

Eight facts in one view: the All Ordinaries Index is a market‑cap‑weighted measure of the 500 biggest ASX companies, with a history stretching back more than four decades.

What is the average return of the All Ordinaries?

Historical average annual returns

• According to long‑term data compiled by Investing.com (financial data platform), the All Ordinaries has delivered an annualised capital return of roughly 7‑9% over the past 20 years, not including dividends.
• When dividends are reinvested, the total return is significantly higher. Morningstar Australia (financial research firm) notes that the index’s performance should be viewed with dividends in mind, because they make up a large part of Australian equity returns.
• Volatility has been high: the index posted a –37% return in 2008 and a +33% return in 2009 (Wikipedia).

Comparison to other indices

• Over the same period, the S&P/ASX 200 has closely tracked the All Ordinaries because it represents the largest 200 stocks, which account for roughly 80% of the index’s value. The All Ordinaries is slightly broader (Motley Fool Australia (investment advice platform)).

Factors influencing returns

• Commodity prices, particularly iron ore and coal, directly affect the materials sector which is heavily weighted in the All Ords.
• Interest‑rate changes by the Reserve Bank of Australia alter the discount rate applied to future earnings, impacting valuations across all sectors.

What is the highest the All Ords has been?

All‑time high record

• The All Ordinaries reached an intraday all‑time high of 8,882.70 on 14 February 2025, according to Wikipedia. Its record closing level on that same date was 8,825.10.
• The previous peak was 7,573.3 set on 1 November 2007, before the Global Financial Crisis.

Context of market conditions at peak

• The 2007 high came during a mining boom driven by China’s massive infrastructure spending. The 2025 high followed a rally in technology and bank stocks, supported by moderate inflation and relatively stable employment.

Subsequent performance

• After the 2007 peak, the index fell by about 55% to around 3,100 in early 2009 (Wikipedia). The 2021‑2025 recovery was steadier, with no single-digit-year crash.

What is the Australian share market doing today?

Current index level and movement

• As of the last market open, the All Ordinaries stood at 8,881.80. Morningstar Australia reported a daily move of +44.3 points (+0.51%) on a recent trading day.

Key movers today

• BHP Group, CSL, and Commonwealth Bank are the largest components; their moves often dictate the index’s direction.
• Energy stocks have been volatile this month due to fluctuating oil prices.

Sector performance

• Financials and materials typically account for more than half the index weight. A rally in both sectors today would lift the whole market.

Live real‑time data is available on Yahoo Finance, Google Finance, and Barchart (commodity and financial data provider).

What was the stock market performance last 20 years?

Two‑decade return overview

• From 2004 to 2024, the All Ordinaries delivered an annualised total return (including dividends) of around 8‑10%, according to Investing.com historical data.

Major events: GFC, COVID, recovery

• The worst year was 2008 (‑37%), the best was 2009 (+33%). The COVID crash in March 2020 erased about 30% in weeks, but the index recovered by the end of 2020 and reached new highs in 2021.

Total return vs price return

• Morningstar Australia emphasises that dividends add roughly 3‑4 percentage points to annual returns for Australian equities. A price‑return index seriously understates true investor experience.

Why has the Australian stock market dropped?

Recent triggers for declines

• Interest‑rate hikes by the Reserve Bank of Australia in 2022‑2023 caused a broad sell‑off, particularly in growth stocks. The All Ordinaries fell about 10% from its August 2022 high to its October 2022 low (Wikipedia).
• Commodity price drops, especially iron ore, have dragged down the mining heavyweights.

Global economic factors

• China’s economic slowdown reduces demand for Australian resources, directly hitting BHP, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue.
• Global inflation and US Federal Reserve policy affect capital flows into Australian equities.

Investor sentiment

• Fear of a recession, even if not realised, can push the index down 5‑10%. The 2023 decline was largely sentiment‑driven, with no actual earnings recession.

What is the All Ordinaries Index?

Composition and eligibility

• The All Ordinaries includes the 500 largest companies by market capitalisation that are listed on the ASX. S&P Dow Jones Indices (index provider) states that the index covers about 90% of the total value of the ASX.
• Liquidity is not a criterion for inclusion, so some smaller, thinly‑traded stocks can be part of the index (Morningstar Australia).

Calculation methodology

• The index is market‑capitalisation weighted — larger companies have a larger impact on the index level. Prices are converted to Australian dollars (Morningstar Australia).

Historical significance

• The All Ordinaries is the oldest share index in Australia, launched in January 1980. It served as the primary national benchmark until the S&P/ASX 200 was introduced in 2000 (Kalkine (Australian stock market analysis)).

How to read an All Ords chart: a step‑by‑step guide

1. Open a live chart. Use Barchart or Investing.com for real‑time and historical data.
2. Identify the trend. Look at the 50‑day and 200‑day moving averages. If the 50‑day is above the 200‑day, the trend is up.
3. Check support and resistance. Draw horizontal lines at recent peaks and troughs. The index often bounces off these levels.
4. Add volume. A price move on high volume is more meaningful than on low volume.
5. Compare periods. Use the 1‑year, 5‑year, and all‑time views to see how the current level fits into the long‑term pattern.

The implication: The All Ords chart rewards patience and trend recognition, not short-term timing.

Timeline: key events in the All Ordinaries history

• 1980 – Index launched with base value of 500.
• 1 November 2007 – All‑time high of 7,573.3 before the GFC.
• 2008‑2009 – GFC crash to around 3,100.
• March 2020 – COVID‑19 crash to about 4,500.
• 2021 – Recovery to new highs above pre‑COVID levels.
• 2022 – Interest‑rate hikes cause a pullback of about 10%.
• 14 February 2025 – Record close of 8,825.10.

The pattern: History shows the index recovers from every crash, but the recovery time can vary.

What we know and what remains uncertain

What this means: Investors should base decisions on confirmed facts while acknowledging the unknowns.

Expert perspectives

“The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient.”

— Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway

“The All Ordinaries is an index designed to measure the performance of the 500 largest companies in the Australian equities market.”

— Morningstar Australia (financial research firm)

The All Ordinaries chart tells the story of Australia’s biggest publicly‑traded companies over four decades. Its long‑term trend is upward, but punctuated by severe drawdowns during financial crises, commodity shocks, and pandemics. For the Australian investor holding a diversified portfolio, the choice is clear: benchmark your returns against the All Ords total return, or risk paying the price of trying to time the market and falling short.

Frequently asked questions