Superannuation assets enjoyed a 14.6 per cent boost for the 12 months ended 31 December 2012, according to the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority's (APRA's) December 2012 Quarterly Superannuation Performance publication.
Total estimated assets, which include the assets of self-managed superannuation funds and the balance of life office statutory funds, rose by $192.2 billion to $1.51 trillion over the year.
Over the December quarter, total estimated industry fund assets grew 4.8 per cent ($13.5 billion) to $294.7 billion, retail funds by 3.2 per cent ($12.3 billion) to $398.1 billion and public sector funds by 2 per cent ($4.6 billion) to $236.9 billion.
Total assets of corporate funds decreased by 0.9 per cent ($0.5 billion) to $57.8 billion.
While the public sector funds received 34.1 per cent ($7.5 billion) of total contributions, industry funds gained 31.7 per cent, retail funds and corporate funds accounted for 29.9 and 4.3 per cent respectively.
The news is in line with Chant West's report earlier this week stating that super fund members can expect a fourth consecutive year for financial returns.
Growth in share markets was cited as being behind the improvement. Australian shares surged 5.0 per cent while international shares advanced 5.4 per cent in hedged terms and 4.6 per cent on an unhedged basis.
Listed property also performed strongly, with Australian REITs up 4.4 per cent and global REITs gaining 3.7 per cent.
