TSP funds at the Tuesday close

Stocks leaned lower and bonds firmed. Four of the five core TSP funds followed that pattern, and the G Fund stayed put.

The C Fund (S&P 500) closed at $107.1256, down 0.38% on the day. It is still up 0.41% over five days and 15.53% for the year.

The S Fund (Dow Jones U.S. Completion) was the weak spot, down 1.19% to $100.6725. It is up 0.44% over five days and 11.37% year to date.

The I Fund (MSCI ACWI ex-US ex-China) fell 0.66% to $53.1435. Even so, it has gained 1.2% over five days and 26.74% year to date, the strongest of the core funds by a wide margin.

The F Fund (Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate) rose 0.19% to $20.7225, and the G Fund added 0.01% to $19.3972. The G Fund follows a Treasury rate rather than market prices, so it barely moves day to day.

The one move over 1%

The S Fund's 1.19% drop is the only daily move past 1%. It was more than three times the C Fund's decline. The S Fund holds the mid-sized and smaller companies outside the S&P 500, and on days when stocks slip, that group often falls harder. The five-day gain of 0.44% shows one rough session took back most of the week's progress there. My data doesn't include a specific news catalyst, so I won't guess at one.

L Funds: the blend tells the story

The L Funds are mixes of the five core funds, so their results sort by stock exposure. L Income, the most conservative, fell 0.14%. L 2030 slipped 0.33%, L 2040 lost 0.40%, and L 2050 lost 0.46%. L 2055 through L 2070 all fell 0.58%, which reflects their heavy stock weighting. One oddity: L 2075 shows a year-to-date gain of 8.04%, well below the roughly 18.8% of its neighbors. It's worth a glance at the official TSP site if you hold it.

What moved IRA index funds and ETFs

One timing note first. The index and ETF figures below are from the prior session's close, so they line up with the TSP numbers but not perfectly.

The S&P 500 dropped 0.38% to 6,714.59, which matches the C Fund's decline. The Dow slipped 0.20% to 46,602.98, and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.67% to 22,788.36, so technology-heavy holdings felt it most among the major indexes.

The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) lost 0.48% to $329.62. The Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) fell 0.78% to $74.24, a bit steeper than the I Fund's drop.

On the bond side, the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) gained 0.19% to $74.28, the same move as the F Fund. The 10-year Treasury yield eased 0.84% to 4.127%. Bond prices rise when yields fall, which explains the gain.

What it means for your plan

One day of red on the screen rarely changes a long-term plan. The C, I and S Funds are all still higher over five days, and every L Fund is positive over that stretch too. A diversified mix cushioned the day: bonds rose a little while stocks fell, and the G Fund held steady.

If you're saving for a goal years away, today's move is a small blip in a much longer line. This recap is general market information, not advice tailored to your situation. Your own timeline, goals and comfort with risk should drive your decisions, not any single session.