{"id":90222,"date":"2026-02-15T22:25:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T01:25:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tech.einnews.com\/article\/892651054"},"modified":"2026-02-15T22:25:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T01:25:36","slug":"3-asx-etfs-to-protect-your-portfolio-from-the-tech-sell-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/02\/15\/3-asx-etfs-to-protect-your-portfolio-from-the-tech-sell-off\/","title":{"rendered":"3 ASX ETFs to protect your portfolio from the tech sell-off"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

Australian and global technology stocks<\/a> have come under pressure as investors reassess the risks and rewards of the AI boom. Accordingly, it could be an ideal time to protect your portfolio through ASX ETFs. <\/p>\n

What’s going on with tech and AI?<\/h2>\n

After a period of strong gains driven by optimism around artificial intelligence<\/a>, markets have turned more cautious. <\/p>\n

This has been driven by growing concern that AI could both fail to justify lofty valuations and disrupt the traditional software business models many ASX tech companies rely on. <\/p>\n

Many Software-as-a-service (SaaS) companies and online classified platforms have been sold off as investors worry that generative AI could replicate core software functions. <\/p>\n

We’ve seen this fear deplete the share price of many ASX stocks including REA Group Ltd <\/strong>(ASX: REA<\/a>) and CAR Group Ltd<\/strong> (ASX: CAR<\/a>). <\/p>\n

While discourse amongst experts<\/a> suggests this fear is largely overblown, it hasn’t stopped the steady decline due to negative sentiment.  <\/p>\n

The sell-off has also been amplified by weaker leads from Wall Street<\/a> and a rotation into more defensive, income-generating sectors such as banks and resources, leaving local tech stocks exposed to a sharp sentiment reversal.<\/p>\n

How to protect your portfolio with ASX ETFs<\/h2>\n

For investors who are suffering with significant exposure to these tech shares, it could be an ideal time to gain exposure to other sectors. <\/p>\n

There are several ASX ETFs that target sectors that are less exposed to these fears. <\/p>\n

Keep in mind none of these are completely immune to broad market sell-offs \u2013 they can still decline if overall sentiment turns bearish. <\/p>\n

However they could hold up better relative to tech-focused or growth-oriented stocks during periods of risk aversion.<\/p>\n

iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF (ASX: IXI<\/a>)<\/h2>\n

This fund<\/a> provides investors with the performance of the S&P Global 1200 Consumer Staples Sector Index. <\/p>\n

The index is designed to measure the performance of global consumer staples companies that produce essential products, including food, tobacco, and household items. <\/p>\n

These companies tend to have steady earnings regardless of tech cycle swings. <\/p>\n

Consumer staples<\/a> are viewed as defensive<\/a> because the demand for these products stays relatively stable even when markets wobble.<\/p>\n

BetaShares Australian Quality ETF (ASX: AQLT<\/a>)<\/h2>\n

This fund targets companies with strong profitability and balance sheets, which can help reduce volatility compared with growth or tech-heavy funds. <\/p>\n

These companies tend to be more resilient in market downturns.<\/p>\n

By sector, it has a large exposure to ASX dominant sectors like financials<\/a> (35.9%) and materials<\/a> (16.2%). <\/p>\n

BetaShares Global Banks ETF \u2013 Currency Hedged (ASX: BNKS<\/a>)<\/h2>\n

This ASX ETF could appeal to investors seeking protection from an AI-driven tech sell-off. <\/p>\n

It provides exposure to a very different part of the market, namely global banks rather than high-growth software or platform companies.<\/p>\n

SaaS or online marketplaces whose valuations hinge on future earnings growth and AI disruption narratives. <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, banks generate profits primarily from net interest margins, lending volumes and credit quality. <\/p>\n

Essentially, their earnings are tied to economic activity. <\/p>\n

Foolish Takeaway<\/h2>\n

It’s important for investors not to abandon AI or tech completely. <\/p>\n

These sectors remain powerful drivers of productivity, earnings growth and long-term innovation across the global economy. <\/p>\n

Rather, the recent global fears have driven valuations down, reminding investors of the importance of diversification<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/strong> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Australian and global technology<\/span> stocks have come under … business models many ASX tech<\/span> companies rely on.\u00c2\u00a0 Many … have steady earnings regardless of tech<\/span> cycle swings.\u00c2\u00a0 Consumer staples … volatility compared with growth or tech<\/span>-heavy funds.\u00c2\u00a0 These companies …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-90222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90222","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=90222"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/90222\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=90222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=90222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=90222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}