TSP funds at the close

Stocks did the lifting on Tuesday, and bonds sat it out. Four of the six individual funds rose, one was flat, and one dipped.

The I Fund led at +1.71%, closing at $63.5755. It tracks international stocks outside the U.S. and China, so a strong day for overseas shares shows up here directly. The S Fund followed at +1.28% ($115.6414). It follows smaller and mid-sized U.S. companies, which often swing harder than the big names in either direction.

The C Fund gained 0.89% to $120.8939. It mirrors the S&P 500, which also rose 0.89%, so the match was exact. The G Fund edged up 0.01% to $20.0665, which is what it does. It earns the Treasury rate and doesn't react to the market. The F Fund slipped 0.19% to $20.8528, tracking the broad bond market lower.

Moves over 1%

Two individual funds crossed that line: the I Fund (+1.71%) and the S Fund (+1.28%). Several L Funds did too. L 2055, 2060, 2065, 2070 and 2075 all gained 1.21%, with identical returns because they hold the same mix at this stage. L 2050 came close at +0.99%.

The rest of the lifecycle lineup rose in step with its stock exposure: L 2045 +0.93%, L 2040 +0.87%, L 2035 +0.80%, L 2030 +0.65%. L Income, the most conservative blend, added 0.34%. More stock means a bigger move on a day like this.

The five-day picture

Tuesday's gains softened a slightly weak week. Over five days the C Fund is still down 0.45%, the S Fund down 0.36% and the I Fund down 0.19%. Every L Fund is also in the red over that span, from -0.05% for L Income to -0.34% for the longest-dated funds. Year to date, the S Fund leads at 13.74%, with the I Fund at 13.47% and the C Fund at 10.16%. The F Fund sits at -0.04% and the G Fund at 2.42%.

What moved IRA holdings

The index numbers below are labeled as the prior session close, but they line up closely with the TSP moves. The S&P 500 rose 0.89% to 7509.2. The Nasdaq Composite led the major U.S. indexes with a 1.29% gain to 25837.211, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average lagged at +0.74% (52224.641).

Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) rose 0.87% to $369.45, basically the same as the C Fund. Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) gained 1.66% to $84.45, close to the I Fund's jump. That points to international stocks as the strongest corner of the market.

Bonds went the other way. Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) fell 0.22% to $72.52. The 10-year Treasury yield rose 0.65% to 4.628%, a move of roughly 3 basis points. When yields climb, existing bond prices usually slip, which fits the F Fund's -0.19% and BND's decline.

What it means for your plan

A day like this feels good, but it's one data point. The same funds that jumped Tuesday are still lower than they were five trading days ago, and that's a reminder of how quickly short stretches can flip.

If your contributions are automatic and your allocation matches your timeline and comfort with risk, today doesn't ask anything of you. Strong days and weak days both tend to fade into the long-term line. Check your allocation on a regular schedule, not on the strength of a single session.

This recap is general information, not personal advice.