The top 10 super funds that beat Trump's tariff terror
But the data also reveals the funds that 'Trump-ed' the rest as fear of the potential tariffs took hold – shares fell a confronting 8 per cent-plus from March's top to its close and bottom.
Leading the 10 Aussie balanced super funds to shake off the rout most effectively were HostPlus (Balanced), NGS Super (Diversified MySuper) and Australian Food Super (Balanced) – all three managed to contain losses for members to just 1.4 per cent.
First Super (Balanced), AMP SuperDirections (Diversified Balanced), Bendigo SmartStart (Balanced Wholesale Fund) and CareSuper (Balanced) kept the month's falls to only 1.5 per cent.
And Mercer Super Trust (Mercer Select Growth), MLC MasterKey Business Super (MLC Balanced) and Colonial First State (First Choice – CFS Moderate) preserved all but 1.6 per cent of balances.
Those are impressive defensive results; we will learn how these funds fared amid the April low and recovery when the individual fund figures are finalised, shortly.
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But the thing to realise is that returns could forge higher again this month. Since that April 7 low, the ASX 200 is up more than an astonishing 14 per cent.
This is precisely why you don't panic and sell when markets have had a big, extreme reaction to a geopolitical, global medical (yep, the pandemic) or economic event: that initial moment is likely to be the worst time to do so.
We are also well above – more than 5 per cent – trading levels just before Liberation Day (still below the high set on February 14 though). Only a portion of that rebound is captured in the latest super data.
As of Friday, shares are also on an eight-day winning streak. But it's not over yet… the tariffs are only on pause.
And in a further blow to Australia, in the president's sights most recently is film and entertainment, with imports in that industry now in line for 100 per cent tariffs. Investors – and super members – should prepare themselves for ongoing volatility.
SuperRating's Kirby Rappell says: 'Setting and sticking to a long-term strategy remains the best approach to achieving long-term success, and we encourage any member thinking of changing their strategy to seek advice from their fund or a trusted financial adviser.'
Hear hear.
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