Wednesday's TSP close

Wednesday was a down day for nearly every TSP fund. Only the G Fund finished in positive territory, and it barely counts: +0.01%, or $20.1992 per share.

Stock funds

The C Fund fell 0.48% to $123.1339, in line with the S&P 500's 0.48% decline. That match is what you would expect, since the fund follows that index. Over five days it is up 0.1%, and it stands at 12.2% for the year.

The S Fund was the standout loser, down 1.10% to $115.2095. That is the only move over 1% in either direction today. It tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Completion index, which covers U.S. companies outside the S&P 500, and those stocks fell harder than the large caps. Even so, the S Fund is up 0.26% over five days and 13.32% year to date.

The I Fund dropped 0.63% to $66.3260. It follows the MSCI ACWI ex-US ex-China index. It has the best numbers of the group over longer stretches: +0.9% over five days and +18.38% year to date.

Bonds and the G Fund

The F Fund slipped 0.23% to $20.7745, tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate. The 10-year Treasury yield rose 0.65% to 4.837%, and higher yields push existing bond prices down. The F Fund is down 0.08% over five days and 0.41% for the year.

The G Fund does not trade on the market. It earns a Treasury-based rate, so it just ticks up, gaining 0.01% and standing at 3.1% year to date.

L Funds

The L Funds blend the five core funds, so their results follow how much stock each one holds. L Income, the most conservative, lost 0.17%. The mid-range funds fell between 0.34% (L 2030) and 0.52% (L 2050). The longest-dated funds, L 2055 through L 2075, all dropped 0.61%. All of them are positive over five days, and their year-to-date gains range from 6.12% (L Income) to about 14.45% (L 2055 to L 2075).

What moved IRA index funds and ETFs

The broad market tells the same story. The S&P 500 fell 0.48% to 7,636.36. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 0.77% to 52,380.66, and the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.64% to 26,253.34. These index readings are from the prior session close in the data I have.

Among ETFs common in IRAs, the Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) dropped 0.54% to $375.56. The Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) fell 0.76% to $87.41. The Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) lost 0.22% to $71.73, which lines up with the F Fund and with the rise in the 10-year yield.

None of the declines were extreme. They were broad but moderate, with stocks, international shares and bonds all giving back a little at once.

What it means for your plan

One red day is a small entry in a long ledger. The C, S and I Funds are all still up double digits for the year, and each is positive over the past five days. A 1.10% drop in the S Fund looks sharper than it is when set against those gains.

The rising 10-year yield is worth watching, since it affects both bond funds and how investors value stocks. But a single session does not tell you where either is headed.

This recap is general information, not advice for your situation. If your allocation fits your timeline and risk tolerance, one day like this rarely changes that. Your plan is built for years, not a Wednesday.