AustralianSuper has released its annual performance figures and its fourth consecutive positive result for its balanced investment option.
The industry fund returned 15.63 per cent after investment fees and taxes for the balanced option, into which most fund members are invested.
Earlier this week research house Chant West said early estimates showed super funds would post their second-best performance in 16 years, with the average balanced option returning 15.5 per cent.
AustralianSuper chief investment officer and deputy chief executive, Mark Delaney, said that although performance had been strong, the fund had weathered a lot of volatility over the last 12 months.
"People shouldn't focus too much on one-year numbers," he said.
"For most people super is a long-term investment which needs a sensible long-term strategy, and part of that is accepting that returns will go up and down from year to year.''
The fourth positive year for AustralianSuper's balanced option brings the fund's average 10-year returns to 7.64 per cent.
Equity markets proved a positive boost to the balanced option, with Australian equities returning 21.9 per cent and global equity markets returning 21.4 per cent. In key markets, the US and Japan were up 20.6 per cent and 51.9 per cent respectively. A low Australian dollar also helped increase the value of overseas assets by 11.8 per cent.
