Australian superannuation funds' median growth fund returned 1.4 per cent over October 2014, with individual results varying from 2.4 per cent to as low as 0.5 per cent according to the Morningstar Australian Superannuation Survey.
Legg Mason Growth came out on top among growth super funds over the year to 31 October at 10.2 per cent, followed by AMP Capital FD Balance (9.8 per cent), Maple-Brown Abbott and Energy Super Balanced (both 9.4 per cent). REST Super Diversified was next at 9.1 per cent.
Longer-term annualised median returns were 8.4 per cent (one year), 11.8 per cent (three years), 8.3 per cent (five years), and 6.5 per cent (10 years to 31 October).
Among balanced (40-60 per cent growth assets) super funds over the year to 31 October, BT Balanced Returns stood at 8.4 per cent, followed by AMP Moderate Growth and AMP Capital Moderately Conservative, both at 8 per cent.
Among growth assets, global listed property came out on top over the year at 18.8 per cent, followed by global shares (17.4 per cent), Australian listed property (16.7 per cent) and Australian shares (6.1 per cent).
Global listed property was up 8 per cent in October, while Australian listed property was up 6.8 per cent, Australian shares 4.3 per cent and international shares 0.1 per cent.
Multi-sector growth super funds' average allocation to equities at 30 September was 57.1 per cent, with 28.6 per cent Australian and 28.5 per cent global.
Legg Mason Growth had the highest allocation to Australian shares (52.9 per cent), followed by Legg Mason Balanced (46.9 per cent), and Energy Super (36 per cent).
The two funds have announced the signing of a non-binding MOU to explore a potential merger.
The board must shift its focus from managing inflation to stimulating the economy with the trimmed mean inflation figure edging closer to the 2.5 per cent target, economists have said.
ASIC chair Joe Longo says superannuation trustees must do more to protect members from misconduct and high-risk schemes.
Super fund mergers are rising, but poor planning during successor fund transfers has left members and employers exposed to serious risks.