The latest Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) research into share ownership has shown self-managed superannuation funds (SMSFs) are allocating a larger proportion of their portfolios to listed investments.
The 2010 Australian Share Ownership Study revealed the proportion of SMSF investments in unlisted managed funds has dropped to 16 per cent. This compares unfavourably to the amount of SMSF portfolios made up of unlisted managed funds of 46 per cent back in 2006 and 38 per cent in 2008.
In keeping with this trend SMSFs also reduced their holdings in residential and commercial property, the study found. In 2008, residential property made up 19 per cent of SMSF portfolios, but this dropped to 12 per cent in 2010. Similarly commercial property accounted for 14 per cent of SMSF portfolios in 2008 but dropped to only 8 per cent two years later.
However not all listed investment vehicles gained favour with the SMSF sector over the last 24 months. SMSF holdings in Real Estate Investment Trusts and Listed Property Trusts fell from 20 per cent in 2008 to 4 per cent in 2010.
The amount of SMSF money allocated to direct Australian equities remained constant at 52 per cent over the two year period spanning 2008 to 2010.
Equities listed on overseas exchanges did not fare so well though, with SMSF investments in this asset class declining by 9 per cent, falling from a 12 per cent allocation in 2008 to a 3 per cent allocation in 2010.
