There's no doubt 2019 was a year full of swings and roundabouts on the ASX 200, with new all-time highs contrasted with ongoing geopolitical instability such as Brexit and US–China trade war concerns.
As a result, you might be wondering how to position your self-managed super fund (SMSF) in 2020. So, here are a few ASX shares that you could look at to diversify your SMSF this year.
Appen Ltd (ASX: APX)
Appen shares have been rocketing higher this year and it has been a standout amongst the ASX 200.
Despite climbing 75.47% higher in 2019, I think Appen could be a good addition to your self-managed super fund in 2020.
The tech group has seen its shares fluctuate with the ups and downs of the US–China trade war. With the US election coming up in November this year, I think we could see a resolution to the ongoing tit-for-tat in 2020.
If that's the case, I'd expect Appen shares to climb higher on greater certainty and improved earnings prospects.
Sydney Airport Holdings Pty Ltd (ASX: SYD)
Sydney Airport has had a solid year and outperformed the S&P/ASX 200 Index (INDEXASX: XJO) in 2019. But that's just one of the reasons why Sydney Airport shares could be a good self-managed super fund buy in 2020.
I think there's the potential for a strong year in 2020, as Sydney Airport's domestic and international passenger numbers could climb higher.
A weaker Aussie dollar could make the country an attractive destination for many travellers. On top of that, low interest rates could mean more spare cash for Aussie households to travel domestically.
Sydney Airport shares could find a place in a self-managed super fund in 2020 on the back of a strong technical environment.
National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR)
National Storage REIT is my alternative pick for a self-managed super fund in 2020.
The group's strong performance in the commercial real estate sector is a real drawcard for me. If you're not bullish on the Aussie economy's prospects next year, ideally you'd look to position your portfolio defensively.
Commercial real estate earnings are typically non-cyclical, which could mean consistent earnings even in a downturn.
With a 5.34% p.a. dividend yield and capital gains, National Storage shares could be a buy at their current price of $1.84 per share.
