TSP funds return mixed results in April

The Thrift Savings Plan's G, F and I funds gained in April, but the plan's C and S funds dropped.

The G fund, made up of government securities, gained a steady 0.46 percent in April. Its 12-month return rose to 5.38 percent.

The F fund, which consists of fixed-income bonds, rose by 1.89 percent in April, after dipping in March. The F fund has gained 7.90 percent in the past year.

The I fund, which is invested in international stocks, rose by 0.25 percent in April, but has posted negative returns in its first full year in the Thrift Savings Plan. The I fund has dropped 14.5 percent since May 2001, when it was introduced.

The C fund, which invests in common stocks, dropped by 6.06 percent in April, and posted a 12.73 percent drop during the past 12 months. The S fund, which invests in the stocks of small- and mid-sized companies, dropped by 1.06 percent in April, bringing down its 12-month return. The S fund has dropped 1.42 percent since May 2001.

The monthly C, F, G, S and I Fund returns reflect net earnings on the amounts invested during the month.

For an index of the performance of the C, I and S funds that is updated each business day, see the "TSP Ticker" on the front page of GovExec.com.

April's rates of return are listed below. The numbers in parentheses are negative.