2020-21 investment market update

This financial year we have delivered for members our highest return in over 10 years.

Our Balanced Growth Super option achieved a 10 year high of 17.28% and our Balanced Growth Income account option returned 16.61% for the 2020-21 financial year. The performance of these options was driven by a strong recovery in share markets.

Through the year we saw a significant rebound in returns across global share markets and the focus for markets change from recession to recovery as central banks across the world added stimulus to economies with a “whatever it takes” approach.

Investment markets have also been impacted by a number a key events over the past 12 months including:

• Australian and global economies going into recession 
• Unprecedented Government and central bank action
• Regions returning to lockdown multiple times in response to COVID-19 
• Tensions between Australia and China increasing and impacting Australian exports
• The US election and the violent invasion of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.
• The local economy recovering and Australian Shares returning 28% this financial year as a result

We are not out of the woods yet. Looking ahead there are still concerns about how COVID-19 hospitalisations and vaccination rates, inflation, central bank policy and continued trade tensions with China will impact investment markets in the 2021-22 financial year.

Strong long term returns 
We’re focused on delivering over the long term and we have continued to deliver strong long term returns for our members.