BT adds Market Vectors ETF to platforms

Managing director of Van Eck Australia, Arian Neiron, said QUAL has been generating a "great deal of investor interest".

"The growth reflects strong demand by Australian investors for investment opportunities in quality international equities, a trend we believe will continue into 2016," he said.

According to Van Eck Australia, the ETF gives investors access to a portfolio of 300 quality international companies via a single ASX trade.

The companies that are included are based on an analysis by MSCI of three "key fundamentals" – high return on equity, stable year-on-year earning and low financial leverage.

"By only including companies based on MSCI's Quality fundamentals, this ETF gives investors a portfolio of international equities with historically strong performance and defensive characteristics," Mr Neiron said.

"QUAL also gives Australian investors exposure to sectors where opportunities are limited if they only invest locally, such as information technology and healthcare. The ETF includes companies such as Google, Roche, Apple and Johnson and Johnson.

"With a management fee of 0.40 per cent per annum, advisers are attracted to QUAL's easily understood and low cost investment strategy," he added.