Listed property helps super fund returns

Exposure to Australian listed property helped drive superannuation fund returns last year, according to the latest data from Morningstar.

The asset class posted a return of 36.2 per cent over the year to 31 January. This posting was up 9.2 per cent from the class' return over the year to 31 December 2014, according to the survey.

Other asset classes posting increased returns were global property at 35 per cent, global shares at 20.1 per cent, and Australian shares at 12 per cent.

The country's super funds largely kicked off to a positive start for the year with a median growth return of 2.3 per cent over January with an individual range of 3.3 per cent to 1.3 per cent.

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Frontrunner Legg Mason Growth had its return at 16.5 per cent, followed by BT Advanced Balanced at 15.9 per cent, and Legg Mason Balanced at 14.4 per cent over the year to 31 January.

Long-term results were also positive with median growth fund for the year at 12.4 per cent, 12.9 per cent for three years, and 9.1 per cent for five years.

The Australian Superannuation Survey released on Monday by Morningstar covering super fund performance to 31 January 2015 includes both commercial for-profit and industry superannuation options.

With balanced 40 to 60 per cent growth assets BT Balanced returns came at 15.6 per cent, OnePath Balance at 11.4 per cent, and AMP Moderate Growth at 11.2 per cent.

Multisector growth superfunds' average allocation to equities at 31 December 2014 was at 57.1 per cent (29.5 per cent Australia, and 27.6 per cent global), while average property exposure was at 8.5 per cent.

With Australian shares Legg Mason Growth had the highest allocation at 53.2 per cent, Legg Mason Balanced at 47.2per cent, and Energy Super Balanced at 36 per cent.