Super funds can thank international shares and listed property for driving their strong performance over the year to 30 June 2015, according to SuperRatings.
Despite lacklustre in other markets the two sectors dominated with the median international shares option returning 19.2 per cent, and the ASX 300 A-REIT Index up 20.2 per cent.
SuperRatings founder, Jeff Bresnahan, said “Australian super funds earned a bigger boost from overseas shares because the falling Australian dollar further magnified international earnings.”
Not-for-profit super funds were prominent performers in the top ten balanced option funds with the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan (CSC PSSap) taking the top spot, returning 12.2 per cent.
“It was also pleasing to note two small funds made the highest rankings this year, proving that size doesn’t matter when it comes to strong performance.”
Intrust and AustSafe both have assets of less than $5 billion but produced strong returns of 11.1 per cent, and 10.7 per cent respectively, SuperRatings data revealed.
The data showed the strongest international share market performers were in Asia with Japan up 33.5 per cent and Hong Kong up 13.2 per cent. In contrast, the US based S&P500 increased just 5.2 per cent, and the UK-based FSE100 was down 3.3 per cent.
“Listed property was also a major contributor to strong super returns this year, with the ASX 300 A-REIT Index up 20.2 per cent for the year,” the SuperRatings report said.
OnePath Integra — OnePath Global Shares came it at number one among the overall top ten funds returning 24.3 per cent, followed by Russell SS Emp — Russell International Shares Portfolio (24.1 per cent), and Perpetual WealthFocus — Perpetual Global Share Fund (24 per cent).
In the top ten pension performing balanced option category MTAA Super AP — Balanced took the top spot returning 13.1 per cent, followed by AustralianSuper Choice Income Account — Balanced (12.6 per cent), and UniSuper AP — Balanced (12.4 per cent).
