POWERED BY MOMENTUM MEDIA
SMSF investors show appetite for equities
Australian self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) investors showed an increased appetite for both equity and international investing in 2017, according to nabtrade.
The nabtrade data, which looked at SMSF’s equity trading patterns in the 12 months to 15 December, 2017, found that international trading surged nearly 100 per cent over the previous year. US equities and US exchange traded funds (ETFs) were the most traded international equity instruments.
Gemma Dale, NAB director of SMSF and consumer behaviour said that this was due to SMSF investors using offshore markets to diversify their portfolios and access high growth US sectors.
SMSF investments in mFunds almost tripled, holdings in ETFs and partially paid shares more than doubled, and investments in preferences shares grew by a third. Traditional equity holdings jumped by 13.5 per cent by the end of the year.
“The analysis shows that investors are getting comfortable with the more exotic equity instruments in the market and are prepared to spread risk,” Dale said. “Low levels of volatility and the strong performance of domestic and international products gave investors confidence to look for new opportunities.”
The data also showed increased popularity for innovative sectors, such as robotics and aerospace, using ETFs.
As in previous years, financials and materials were the most heavily traded stocks, with telecommunication services, healthcare and consumer discretionary stocks also proving popular. Commonwealth Bank, NAB and Telstra were the most traded stocks for the year.
Recommended for you
The impact of identity theft and its threat to superannuation savings were highlighted in a case that went before the Federal Court at the end of 2023.
A recent NSW Supreme Court decision is an important reminder that while super funds may be subject to restrictive superannuation and tax laws, in essence they are still a trust and subject to equitable and common law claims, says a legal expert.
New research from the University of Adelaide has found SMSFs outperformed APRA funds by more than 4 per cent in 2021–22.
The SMSF Association has made a number of policy recommendations for the superannuation sector in its pre-budget submission to the government.
TOP PERFORMING FUNDS
ACS FIXED INT - AUSTRALIA/GLOBAL BOND
Fund name
3y(%)pa
1
Global X GlobalX FANG+ ETF
33.51 3 y p.a(%)
2
Spire Oaktree Opportunities XI Second Close
32.68 3 y p.a(%)
3
DomaCom Lot 21 Chellaston Road Munno Para West SA 5115 Australia
31.62 3 y p.a(%)
4
Spire Oaktree Opportunities XI First Close USD
31.36 3 y p.a(%)
5
Fidante Credit Suisse Global Private Equity
29.60 3 y p.a(%)
