Friday's TSP close: a broad rebound

Stock funds rose across the board in the Thrift Savings Plan on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. The bond funds nudged up. Most of the gains only trimmed a rough week, though, since every stock fund is still negative over five days.

Which TSP funds moved

The S Fund led at +2.02%, closing at $95.9220. That is the biggest move on the board and the only individual fund to clear 2% on the day. It still trails the other stock funds this year at 6.11% YTD, and it is down 1.85% over five days.

The C Fund gained 0.99% to $105.5027. That lines up almost exactly with the S&P 500's +0.98%, which is what you'd expect since the fund follows that index. Its five-day figure is -1.91%, and it is up 13.78% for the year.

The I Fund rose 0.77% to $52.2729. It had the roughest week of the stock funds at -2.64%, but it also has the strongest year, at +24.66%.

The F Fund added 0.19% to $20.8534. The G Fund was close to flat at +0.01%, as usual. The 10-year Treasury yield fell about 1% to 4.063, and lower yields generally help the bond prices behind the F Fund's Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate benchmark.

The L Funds

The L Funds blend the five core funds, so their day follows how much stock each one holds. L Income, the most conservative, rose 0.30%. L 2030 gained 0.62%, and L 2050 gained 0.87%. L 2055 through L 2075 all rose 1.04%, which tops 1% because they hold the most stock.

The five-day numbers follow the same pattern. L Income is down 0.51%, while the long-dated funds are down 2.13%. One oddity: L 2075 shows 5.94% YTD against 16.48% for L 2070, despite identical daily moves. I'd read that figure with some care.

What moved IRA index funds and ETFs

The index data below is from the prior session close. The S&P 500 rose 0.98% to 6602.99, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 0.88% to 22273.08. The Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) did a bit better at +1.16% to $323.80. Its wider reach into smaller companies fits with the S Fund's strong showing.

Abroad, the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) rose 1.01% to $72.92. That's a touch ahead of the TSP's I Fund, which follows a different index that leaves out China.

The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) gained 0.24% to $74.52, in step with the F Fund and the dip in yields. The data here doesn't say what set off the buying, so I won't guess at it.

What it means for your plan

A 1% to 2% up day feels good after a down week, but it doesn't change much. Even with Friday's gains, the five-day numbers are still red, and that kind of back-and-forth is normal for stock funds. The year-to-date figures tell you more than any single session does.

If your plan is built for the long haul, with regular contributions and a mix suited to your timeline, one day rarely matters. This recap is general information, not personal advice. Your own time horizon and comfort with risk are what should guide your choices.