Australian superannuation growth funds fell in October, with the median fund returning to -0.7 per cent and individual results ranging from 0.4 to -2.1 per cent, thanks to poor growth asset results, according to Morningstar.
Global equities was the best-performing growth asset class returning -1.4 per cent, followed by Australian equities (-2.2 per cent), global listed property (-5.4 per cent), and Australian listed property (-7.9 per cent).
Morningstar found the median results over the longer term for growth super funds were 6.7 per cent over the three years, 9.5 per cent over five years, and 4.8 per cent over 10 years.
Energy Super Balanced was the best-performing growth fund and recorded returns of 6.2 per cent. It was followed by AustralianSuper Conservative Balanced, Optium Growth, and REI Super Balanced which returned 5.5 per cent, 5.2 per cent, and 4.9 per cent, respectively.
CBUS was the top MySuper performer in October at 6.6 per cent and was followed by Energy Super (6.2 per cent) and AustralianSuper Balanced (5.5 per cent).
Energy Super Capital Managed was the best-performing balanced (40 to 60 per cent growth assets) super fund at 5.9 per cent.
They survey also found defensive assets totalled 25.4 per cent on average and multisector growth super funds' average allocation to equities was 55.9 per cent while, at the same time, property exposure was 9.2 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.