Temasek Review 2020
Investor

12-month Returns Simulation

We manage our portfolio for long term multi-year returns, and expect volatile annual returns for a mostly equity portfolio.

For our current Temasek portfolio mix, our Monte Carlo simulations show a five-in-six chance that our one-year forward portfolio returns may range from -25% to +45%. Our annual returns ranged from -30% to +43%, during the past decade or so.

Narrower curves in the chart below mean less volatility compared to the flatter curves of the 2008/09 Global Financial Crisis years.

(as at 31 March)

Simulation of 12-month Forward Portfolio Returns

Volatility of Returns

A wider simulated range means a more volatile outlook.

The range of possible returns from the simulation is dependent on the prevailing volatility and correlation conditions of asset markets. When prevailing volatility is high, such as at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic or during the GFC years, the range of one-year simulated forward returns will be wider, signifying greater probability of larger gains and losses.