TSP numbers stay strong in November

For the second consecutive month, the Thrift Savings Plan's C, S and I funds posted positive returns in November, according to the latest numbers from the plan. The C fund, which invests in common stocks, gained 5.87 percent after climbing 8.77 percent in October. The fund, which made a strong comeback in October after a year-long slump, has dropped 16.48 percent over the past year.

The S fund also remained strong in November, increasing 6.76 percent. The S fund, which invests in the stocks of small- and mid-sized companies, rebounded in October, posting a positive return of 3.38 percent. The fund has fallen 9.9 percent in the last 12 months.

The I fund, which invests in international stocks, gained 4.49 percent last month, after increasing 5.42 percent in October. The fund, which plummeted 10.75 percent in September, has dropped 12.68 percent since December 2001.

The TSP's G fund rose by 0.34 percent in November. The fund, made up of government securities, increased 0.33 percent in October and has gained 5.04 percent in the past 12 months.

The usually reliable F fund dropped a minuscule 0.01 percent last month, the only fund to post a negative return in November. One of the TSP's most consistent performers, the F fund, fell 0.44 percent in October, after posting gains in September and August. The fund, which consists of fixed-income bonds, has risen 7.36 percent in the past year.

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.

November's rates of return appear below. The numbers in parentheses are negative.