The short version

Stocks had a strong Tuesday. The TSP's stock funds all gained more than 2%, the bond funds barely moved, and the G Fund did what it always does. Nothing fell on the day.

TSP funds: who moved and why

C Fund closed at $104.7643, up 2.92%. It tracks the S&P 500, which gained 2.91%, so the match is nearly exact. Even with the jump, the C Fund is down 0.41% over five days and 4.54% year to date.

S Fund led the pack at $99.1781, up 3.44%. It follows the Dow Jones U.S. Completion index, which covers mid-sized and smaller companies outside the S&P 500. It was the biggest one-day gain in the lineup. Over five days it is down 0.09%, and it is off 2.45% for the year.

I Fund rose 2.28% to $56.5148, tracking international stocks outside the U.S. and China. It has the best year-to-date stock record of the group at +0.87%, and it is up 0.7% over five days.

F Fund added 0.21% to $20.8902. It follows the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate bond index, and bonds had a mild up day. The F Fund is up 0.14% for the year.

G Fund rose 0.01% to $19.7918. It earns a Treasury-based rate, not a market price, so it stays quiet when stocks swing. It is up 1.02% year to date.

Spikes over 1%

The C, S and I Funds all cleared that mark, as did every L Fund from 2030 through 2075.

  • L 2030: +1.59%
  • L 2035: +1.83%
  • L 2040: +2.00%
  • L 2045: +2.13%
  • L 2050: +2.27%
  • L 2055 through L 2075: +2.74% each

The pattern follows from how L Funds work. They blend the five core funds, and the later the target date, the more weight goes to stock funds. That is why the gains grow as the dates get longer. The 2055 to 2075 funds all show the same +2.74% day and -2.32% year to date, which fits their stock-heavy mix. L Income gained 0.78%, below the 1% line, and is up 0.08% for the year.

What moved IRA index funds and ETFs

The figures below are labeled as prior-session closes, but they line up closely with the TSP moves above.

  • S&P 500: 6,528.52, up 2.91%
  • Dow Jones Industrial Average: 46,341.512, up 2.49%
  • Nasdaq Composite: 21,590.631, up 3.83%, the strongest of the three
  • Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI): $320.81, up 2.93%
  • Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS): $77.11, up 3.32%
  • Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND): $73.64, up 0.22%
  • 10-Year Treasury yield: 4.311%, down 0.71%

VTI tracks nearly the whole U.S. market, so its 2.93% gain sits right beside the S&P 500's. VXUS covers stocks outside the U.S., and its 3.32% gain shows the strength was not limited to American markets. The Nasdaq's bigger move says growth-oriented and technology-heavy holdings were doing a lot of the lifting.

On the bond side, the 10-year yield slipped, and bond prices generally rise when yields fall. BND gained 0.22%, in line with the F Fund's 0.21%.

What it means for your plan

A 2.9% day in the C Fund looks big, but the numbers show the context. The C Fund is still down 4.54% for the year and slightly lower over the past five days. One good session does not erase that, and one bad session would not have ended anything either.

If you contribute every paycheck, you bought at today's higher prices along with everyone else, and you will buy at different prices next week. That is how steady investing works. Your allocation, your time horizon and your regular contributions matter far more than any single day's close.

This recap is general information, not personal advice. If you are thinking about changing your mix, a quick review of your own goals and timeline is worth more than reacting to a headline number.