Increased flows into superannuation and retirement incomes segments has boosted the total funds under management (FUM) held by retail and wholesale managed funds by 14.3 per cent or $112.4 billion, up from $784 billion in June 2012 to $896 billion at June 2013.
Personal super FUM increased by 12.3 per cent, or $19.6 billion, for the 12 months to June 2013, and over the June quarter FUM in this segment increased by 2.1 per cent to $178 billion.
Employer super FUM increased by 15.5 per cent, up from $92 billion in June 2012 to $106 billion at June 2013, while FUM in the retirement incomes segment increased by 2.8 per cent to $132 billion at June 2013.
Retail investments have posted their first quarter of positive cash flow since September 2007, with a net cash flow of $1.2 billion recorded for the June 2013 quarter, according to data released by DEXX&R.
The growth of the retail investment sector, excluding superannuation investments and dependent on discretionary investment, has languished after the global financial crisis, with investors focusing on cash and low risk investments, according to DEXX&R.
The research group stated that the return to positive inflows in the retail investment sector might be due to discretionary investments being directed outside of superannuation due to the lower cap on super contributions of $25,000.
Total funds under management (FUM) in the retail investment (non-super) segment increased by 5.8 per cent or $7.5 billion to $136 billion at June 2013, up from $129 billion at March 2013.
During the June quarter total retail and wholesale FUM increased by 2.1 per cent or $18.4 billion to $896 billion at June 2013, up from $878 billion at March 2013.
Future Group is set to take on nearly $1 billion in funds under management (FUM) and welcome more than 100,000 new members following two significant successor fund transfers.
Insignia’s Master Trust business suffered a 1.9 per cent dip in FUA in the third quarter, amid total net outflows of $1.8 billion.
While the Liberal senator has accused super funds of locking everyday Australians out of the housing market, industry advocates say the Coalition’s policy would only push home ownership further out of reach.
Australia’s largest superannuation fund has confirmed all members who had funds stolen during the recent cyber fraud crime have been reimbursed.