U.S. equities markets remained in positive territory in the first half of 2016 despite some major shock waves. The first half performance for stocks is also a good sign for the second half of 2016.
Since 1950, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has ended the first half of the year positive 42 of the 66 years (64%), according to the Wall Street Journal. Of those 42 years with positive returns in the first six months, it has continued to go up 32 times (75%). Overall, regardless of first half performance, the index has gained in the second half 45 times.
The C fund is up 3.87% after the first six months of the year and eked out a small gain in June as a result of large gains in the last few days of the month and despite the turmoil in the stock market after voters in the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union.
International stocks are not having a good year. The I fund is down 9.81% for the last 12 months, -3.44% in the first half of 2016 and -3.33% in June. With the turmoil in Europe as a result of the British election, “The epicenter of the fallout will be in the U.K. and Europe…which are likely to face the greatest economic, financial markets and political repercussions.”
Bond investors have had gains that have beat stock returns while many investors are still waiting for the bond bubble to pop. The F fund has had the best returns of any TSP fund for the month (1.8%), for the year-to-date (5.5%) and for the past 12 months (6.41%).
Here is how the individual funds in the Thrift Savings Plan performed for the first half of the year:
G Fund | F Fund | C Fund | S Fund | I Fund | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | 0.15% | 1.8% | 0.26% | -0.13% | -3.33% |
YTD | 0.93% | 5.5% | 3.87% | 2.71% | -3.44% |
12 Month | 2.02% | 6.41% | 4.07% | -5.00% | -9.81% |
L Income | L 2020 | L 2030 | L 2040 | L 2050 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | 0.11% | -0.12% | -0.31% | -0.43% | -0.58% |
YTD | 1.46% | 1.63% | 1.75% | 1.76% | 1.68% |
12 Month | 1.92% | 0.74% | 0.16% | -0.39% | -1.05% |