TSP funds make small gains in March

Thrift Savings Plan funds made modest gains in March, with four posting increases of less than 1 percentage point and one losing ground.

The F Fund, consisting of fixed-income bonds, boasted the strongest showing in March, growing by 0.69 percent. Over the past year, the fund has grown by 5.29 percent.

With the second-best growth, the I Fund gained 0.60 percent in March. The fund, which invests in international stocks, has increased by more than 56 percent in the past 12 months.

The S Fund showed modest gains, rising by 0.38 percent. The fund, which invests in the stocks of small- and mid-size companies, has increased by 56 percent since April 2003.

The G Fund showed similarly modest growth, gaining 0.29 percent in March. The fund, made up of government securities, rose by 4 percent in the past year. The C Fund, which invests in common stock, dipped by 1.5 percent last month. Since April 2003, the fund has grown by nearly 35 percent.

The monthly F, I, S, G and C 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.

March's rates of return appear below. Numbers in parentheses are negative.