Australian funds steady in July



The median Australian share fund manager marginally underperformed the benchmark last month, with materials continuing to prove the standout sector, according to Morningstar.
The median fund returned 4.2 per cent in the month to July 31, 0.2 per cent below the index, with annualised returns 17.2 per cent for the year, 14.5 per cent over three years and 11.1 per cent over five years.
Allan Gray (27.4 per cent), Millinium (24.7 per cent) and Bernstein Value (23.3 per cent) offered the highest returns for the month.
Materials was again the best performing sector for July, returning 7.7 per cent, followed by resources at 6.7 per cent and information technology at 5.7 per cent.
Utilities (0.9 per cent), energy (2.2 per cent), and healthcare (2.9 per cent) again returned less favourable growth.
Recommended for you
Infrastructure assets are well-positioned to hedge against global uncertainty and can enhance the diversification of traditional portfolios with their evergreen characteristics, an investment chief believes.
Volatility in US markets means currency is becoming a critical decision factor in Australian investors’ ETF selection this year.
Clime Investment Management is overhauling the selection process for its APLs, with managing director Michael Baragwanath describing the threat of a product failure affecting clients as “pure nightmare fuel”.
Global X will expand its ETF range of exchange-traded funds next month with a low-cost Australian equity product as it chases ambitions of becoming a top issuer of ETFs in Australia.