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Super funds deliver modest May returns
Despite geopolitical tensions globally making investors nervous, superannuation funds have delivered modest positive returns in May of 0.5 per cent for the median balanced option, according to SuperRatings.
The research house said that super funds did struggle from global uncertainty despite remaining above the line, as events such as President Trump’s on-again, off-again trade war with China left markets frustrated.
“May was a challenging month for super, with global factors playing a significant role,” SuperRatings chief executive, Kirby Rappell said.
“The ongoing tariff saga between the US and China, along with talks between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un seemed to wrongfoot markets in May, and super funds were not immune from the uncertainty.”
Super funds do not need to lose all hope, however. Rappell said that with returns for the 2018 financial year already at 8.4 per cent, double-digit returns for the year were still “entirely possible” despite the above.
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