AustralianSuper’s balanced option has returned 12.44 per cent after taxes and fees for the 2016/17 financial year thanks to global equity markets performing well.
The industry superannuation fund said the stronger global economy was supported by solid results from other diversified assets such as infrastructure.
The fund said this was the eighth consecutive year of positive returns since the global financial crisis and the fourth year out of five that the fund had delivered double digit returns for members.
AustralianSuper chief executive and chief investment officer, Mark Delaney, said: “The return to above-average performance reflects the improving global economy particularly in China and the US. Investment markets have been resilient in the face of greater political uncertainty”.
He said the diversified nature of our balanced option had allowed the fund to manage market ups and downs over the long-term.
“It’s the breadth of the asset classes that we invest in and our active management of these investments that helps create sustainable long-term returns for members,” he said.
Delaney noted that $26 billion, around 22 per cent, of the fund’s assets were now managed internally and he expected this to increase in coming years.
“Internal management will help us to reduce costs, give the fund the ability to be more agile in the way we invest and enable us to continue to invest in high quality assets,” he said.
Jim Chalmers has defended changes to the Future Fund’s mandate, referring to himself as a “big supporter” of the sovereign wealth fund, amid fierce opposition from the Coalition, which has pledged to reverse any changes if it wins next year’s election.
In a new review of the country’s largest fund, a research house says it’s well placed to deliver attractive returns despite challenges.
Chant West analysis suggests super could be well placed to deliver a double-digit result by the end of the calendar year.
Specific valuation decisions made by the $88 billion fund at the beginning of the pandemic were “not adequate for the deteriorating market conditions”, according to the prudential regulator.
But it isn't a balanced fund. Has anyone even looked at the asset allocation? Goodness me!