June is a slow month for TSP
The S Fund, up 0.73 percent, posts the strongest returns for the first month of summer.
After two months of double-digit growth, the Thrift Savings Plan's I Fund, which invests in overseas companies, dropped 1.08 percent in June, according to returns released on Wednesday.
The TSP's other funds posted meager returns for June, with none gaining more than 1 percent. Although all the funds have grown since the beginning of 2009, only the G Fund, composed of government securities, and the F Fund, which includes fixed-income bonds, have increased since July 1, 2008. Each of the TSP's life-cycle (L) funds climbed in June, but are still in the red compared with 12 months ago. The L funds have different mixes of investments that are less risky as participants near retirement.
The S Fund, which invests in small and medium-sized companies, and tracks the Dow Jones Wilshire 4500 Index, posted the strongest returns in June, at 0.73 percent. So far in 2009, it has gained 7.85 percent, but it has lost 27.94 percent compared to the same period last year.
The G Fund grew 0.27 percent in June, and has accumulated 1.36 percent since January. During the past 12 months, the fund rose 3.32 percent. The F Fund inched up 0.54 percent in June, and has gained 1.95 percent since the start of 2009. Overall, it has gained 6.18 percent since June 2008.
The C Fund, which invests in larger companies on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, was up 0.24 percent in June, and has increased 3.3 percent since the beginning of the year. During the past 12 months, the fund fell 26.12 percent.
The I Fund posted losses of 1.08 percent in June, but so far has registered positive gains for the year, at 6.6 percent. During the past year, the fund has plunged 31.21 percent.
Despite stronger gains earlier this year, the riskier L funds saw little growth in June. The L 2040 Fund, designed for enrollees who are not nearing retirement, posted an increase of 0.09 percent in June, and 5.14 percent since the beginning of the year. Since June 2008, it has lost 21.42 percent. The L 2030 Fund was up 0.12 percent in June, and has gained 4.85 percent since the beginning of the year. In the past 12 months, it has lost 18.1 percent.
The L 2020 Fund posted gains of 0.14 percent in June and is up 4.4 percent so far in 2009. Since June 2008, the fund has fallen 14.38 percent. The L 2010 Fund posted gains of 0.24 percent in June and increased 2.82 percent since the start of the year. Since June 2008, it has decreased 5.56 percent. The L Income Fund grew 0.26 percent in June, and is up 2.6 percent so far this year. During the past 12 months, it dipped 1.96 percent.