September 2009
September saw mixed performance for growth assets, with positive returns from Australian shares and Australian listed property, while international shares (unhedged to $A) declined. Financial asset (Australian and international fixed interest) performance was positive for the month.
Australian shares
The Australian stock market gained 6.3% in September, following a return of 6.6% in August (S&P/ASX300 Accumulation Index). Industrial stocks outperformed resource stocks over the month, returning 7.8% and 2.7% respectively.
International shares
Overall, international stock markets fell 0.9% in September, following a return of 2.5% in August (MSCI World Ex Australia in $A (unhedged)).
The US stock market returned 3.6% in September, following an increase of 3.4% in August (S&P500). Technology stocks were positive, returning 5.6% for the month (NASDAQ).
The UK stock market returned 4.6% for the month, further to a return of 6.5% in August (FTSE).
The Japanese stock market (Nikkei) decreased 3.4%, following an increase of 1.3% the previous month.
Emerging markets returned 4.2% in Australian dollar terms, following a return of -1.7% in August (MSCI Emerging Markets Free ($A) Accumulation Index).
Property
Australian listed property was positive for the month, returning 9.8% (S&P/ASX200 Property Trust Accumulation Index), further to a gain of 16.0% the previous month.
Fixed interest
The Australian bond market (UBS Australia Composite Bond Index) returned 0.7% in September. The international bond markets (Barclays Capital based Aggregate Index (hedged to $A) (formerly Lehman Brothers Index)) returned 1.1% for the month.
Cash
The Australian short-term money market returned 0.3% (UBS Warburg Australia Bank Bill Index).