Most TSP funds slip in October
Despite some losses, all the funds are up since the beginning of 2009
After several months of steady growth, eight of the 10 Thrift Savings Plan funds posted losses in October.
The S Fund, which invests in small- and mid-size companies and tracks the Dow Jones Wilshire 4500 Index, had the steepest losses in October after posting the biggest gains in September. The fund's value declined 5.51 percent. Since the beginning of 2009, however, the S Fund's value is still up 21.83 percent, and its worth has risen 13.34 percent since this time last year.
The I Fund, invested in overseas companies, fell 2.41 percent, the second-largest loss among the funds in October. The fund had posted substantial gains since January and during the last 12 months; it was up 24.27 percent since the first of the year and 24.8 percent since November 2008.
The C Fund, which invests in common stocks of large companies on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, dipped 1.86 percent. The fund's value increased 17.23 percent since January 2009, and 9.98 percent overall during the past 12 months.
Both the F Fund, which invests in fixed-income bonds, and the G Fund (government securities), posted small October gains. The G Fund rose 2.26 percent, and is up 2.46 in 2009, and 3.02 percent since November 2008. The F Fund gained 0.51 percent last month and is up 6.29 percent this year, and 13.89 percent during the past 12 months.
All the life-cycle funds, which are designed to move participants from riskier to safer investment balances as they near retirement, suffered small losses in October. The L 2040 Fund dropped 2.15 percent; the L 2030 Fund declined 1.81 percent; the L 2020 Fund fell 1.39 percent; the L 2010 Fund dipped 0.38 percent; and the L Income Fund decreased 0.26 percent.
All those funds have managed to gain value since the beginning of 2009. The L 2040 Fund is up 17.9 percent since January; the L 2030 Fund has gained 16.13 percent; the L 2020 Fund grew 13.96 percent; the L 2010 Fund climbed 7.69 percent; and the L Income Fund is up 6.58 percent.
Those funds also have experienced a boost in value during the past 12 months. During this time, the L 2040 Fund increased 15.03 percent; the L 2030 Fund gained 13.95 percent; the L 2020 Fund rose 12.59 percent; the L 2010 Fund grew 7.74 percent; and the L Income Fund climbed 6.97 percent.