Investment Update to 30 September 2026
9 November 2026
Long-term returns remain solid
Global financial markets were more subdued in September than in recent months. Inflation concerns, rising interest rates and volatile oil prices contributed to uncertainty in share and bond markets.
As markets move in the short term, Brighter Super’s long-term diversified approach continues to deliver solid returns for members.
Our four most popular investment options, based on the amounts members have invested – MySuper, Growth, Balanced and Conservative Balanced – each delivered an average annual return above the median of its respective SuperRatings index over the ten years to 30 September 2026¹.
The charts below compare each option’s average annual return for the ten years ended 30 September 2026 with the median of its respective SuperRatings index¹.
How our diversified options performed
The table below shows returns for all of Brighter Super’s diversified investment options for periods ended 30 September 20261.
| Brighter Super investment option |
Returns for periods ended 30 September 2026 (%)1 |
| 1 year |
3 years |
5 years |
7 years |
10 years |
| Accumulation accounts |
| MySuper |
6.59% |
10.43% |
7.09% |
7.11% |
7.67% |
| Growth |
7.31% |
12.13% |
8.08% |
9.45% |
9.82% |
| Balanced |
6.04% |
10.59% |
6.81% |
8.06% |
8.59% |
| Indexed Balanced |
4.51% |
11.29% |
7.21% |
7.73% |
- |
| Conservative Balanced |
5.06% |
8.84% |
5.23% |
6.24% |
6.66% |
| Stable |
3.61% |
6.84% |
3.82% |
4.38% |
4.90% |
| Secure |
1.52% |
3.90% |
2.35% |
2.24% |
2.78% |
| Pension accounts |
| Growth |
8.19% |
13.51% |
9.10% |
10.56% |
11.00% |
| Balanced |
6.65% |
11.72% |
7.58% |
8.90% |
9.53% |
| Indexed Balanced |
5.03% |
12.27% |
7.89% |
8.63% |
N/A |
| Conservative Balanced |
5.65% |
9.89% |
5.90% |
6.93% |
7.41% |
| Stable |
4.05% |
7.74% |
4.35% |
4.95% |
5.55% |
| Secure |
1.96% |
4.54% |
2.64% |
2.38% |
3.03% |
Our monthly Investment Update focuses on the performance of our diversified options, where most of our members are invested.
Brighter Super offers a range of investment options to suit different goals, timeframes and risk levels. These include ready-made diversified options and single asset class options, with indexed options also available.
See the latest performance of our full set of investment options.
Looking back: global market trends in September 2026
The MSCI World Index (hedged in Australian dollars) fell 0.7% over the month. Rising bond yields and higher oil prices affected most major markets, although large technology companies performed well. Central banks in several major economies raised interest rates, and government bond yields rose sharply in response to short term inflation concerns.
There were also concerns that borrowing by the US government and artificial intelligence (AI) companies could make it hard for others to borrow. Oil price volatility and unresolved US–Iran tensions continue to remain key risks for markets.
US shares had mixed results in September, with the S&P 500 Index returning −0.4% over the month, while the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 1.9%. Gains were concentrated in AI-related technology. The US Federal Reserve raised the cash rate by 0.25 percentage points, its first increase since 2023, citing elevated inflation and strong economic growth as key drivers for the rate hike.
European shares fell in September, with the MSCI Europe Index falling 2.4% when measured in euros. Higher energy prices and rising bond yields were the main causes. The European Central Bank raised its rate by 0.25 percentage points to 2.50%, its second increase this year.
Emerging market shares rose in September, with the MSCI EM Index (unhedged in Australian dollars) returning 2.5% over the month. Results varied across markets when measured in local currencies. Taiwan and Korea gained from continued demand for AI-related semiconductors and memory. Over the month, the MSCI Taiwan Index returned 4.5% and the MSCI Korea Index returned 2.0%, while the MSCI China Index returned −4.5% and the MSCI India Index returned −6.3%.
Australian shares fell 2.4% over the month, due to similar global factors. The only sectors to post gains were Health Care (+3.9%) and Energy (+0.5%), while the sectors that fell the most were Information Technology (−9.8%), Materials (−5.9%) and Consumer Discretionary (−3.2%). The Reserve Bank of Australia raised the cash rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4.60%, its fourth increase this year.
Government bond yields – which are a measure of the returns available to investors from bonds, rose sharply across major markets. Yields on long-term bonds reached their highest levels in several years. The US 10-year government bond yield ended the month rising 0.53 percentage points to 5.27%, while the Australian 10-year yield rose 0.28 percentage points to 5.34%.
Over the month, Global Fixed Interest (hedged into Australian dollars) returned −1.7% and Australian Fixed Interest returned −0.9%.
The Australian dollar depreciated 2.9% against the US dollar over September, as a hawkish Federal Reserve lifted the US dollar against most currencies. The DXY Index rose 2.0% over the month.
