Struggling growth assets in the month of September lead Australian super funds into another difficult month, according to Morningstar.
The research house's latest superannuation survey found global listed property produced the best return of 2.6 per cent, followed by Australian listed property at -0.3 per cent, global equities at -2.8 per cent, and Australian shares at -2.9 per cent.
The median growth fund recorded a fall of 1.1 per cent for the month, and median results over the longer term were 5.7 per cent over the year, 10.6 per cent over three years, and 8.2 per cent over the five years to 30 September 2015.
The best performing growth super funds over the year to 30 September 2015 were MLC Growth (8.8 per cent), AMP Balanced Growth (8.3 per cent), and BT Active Balanced (7.8 per cent).
Best performing balanced (40 to 60 per cent growth assets) over the same period were BT Balanced Returns (8.2 per cent), AMP Capital Moderately Conservative (6.5 per cent), and AMP Moderate Growth (6.4 per cent).
A member body representing some prominent wealth managers is concerned super funds’ dominance is sidelining small companies in capital markets.
Earlier this month, several Australian superannuation funds fell victim to credential stuffing attacks, which saw a small number of members lose more than $500,000.
Small- to medium-sized funds have become collateral damage in an "imperfect" model for super industry levies, a financial institution has said.
Big business has joined the chorus of opposition against the proposed Division 296 tax.