I fund

[Sensei]

Was it closed last Friday?

Nikkei | Nikkei Index | Nikkei Dow Index



Looks like it

Tokyo Stock Exchange should have been open Friday 2/15. I believe it was closed on Monday of last week. At any rate, as clester has been pointing out, the performance of the Nikkei has been somewhat offset by the weakened yen, which tends to result in a stronger dollar, in turn suppressing the value of our I fund. Plus, in recent weeks, the Nikkei has been very volatile in terms of being up 2% one day, then down 1.5% the next. It has been in a general uptrend though.

In short, I have no clue how the Nikkei's 2% gain today will hold up tomorrow, nor how it will impact the I-fund. However, based on Europe and our futures as of this moment (both flat), Japan's stock performance lately seems more correlated to the value of the yen than to the direction of Western markets.

 

[mehougar]

Is there any breakdown to which countries the I Fund is invested in? I thought that I had seen something at somepoint but I have been searching this morning and cannot find anything.

I am considering moving money to the I fund because I feel there is going to be a stock market correction soon in the US based on the sustained and steady rise of the stock prices.. but I have limited knowledge of the I fund.

Also how do the dividends work for the I fund? I saw that the index has been paying out dividends in June and December. Are those dividends then added to the I fund those days?

 

[James48843]

Is there any breakdown to which countries the I Fund is invested in? I thought that I had seen something at somepoint but I have been searching this morning and cannot find anything.

I am considering moving money to the I fund because I feel there is going to be a stock market correction soon in the US based on the sustained and steady rise of the stock prices.. but I have limited knowledge of the I fund.

As of 2009, Japan makes up about 23% and was the single largest holding nation of the EAFE fund, on which the I fund is based. There are 21 developed countries. United Kingdom is next at 19.9%. France is 10.9%, Germany 8.7%, Switzerland 8.4%. Australia 6.0%. The rest are less than that. See http://www.tsptalk.com/images/2009-i-fund-benchmark-evaluation.pdf for a summary. Note- the table contained in that docuent is slightly off (skewed). Drop one row to align properly and flip the last entry of 6%. Somebody made an error preparing that table.

Also how do the dividends work for the I fund? I saw that the index has been paying out dividends in June and December. Are those dividends then added to the I fund those days?

They are added in, but it isn't necessarily on the same day. Based on past experience it could be as much as three days later, or even a small amount worked in to the fair value calculation later.

 

[nnuut]

https://www.tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/IFund.pdf

 

[mehougar]

Thanks. So using that data and the numbers in the table from nnuut could you make the assumption that each of these markets will then act similar to their index (i.e. Nikkei 225 for Japan, DAX for Germany etc.)

So using today's (current) numbers:
Japan 21.6 x +2.0% = 43.2
UK 23.2 x -0.28 = -6.46
Germany 7.8 x +0.22 = +1.71
etc.
etc.

Once added up you would then divide by 100. Does that make sense to get a gauge of how the fund would do that day?

 

[Birchtree]

The I fund is composed of individual large cap companies - you can't go by the country indexes. Right now with the currency wars it's all about the exports.

 

[clester]

Thanks. So using that data and the numbers in the table from nnuut could you make the assumption that each of these markets will then act similar to their index (i.e. Nikkei 225 for Japan, DAX for Germany etc.)

So using today's (current) numbers:
Japan 21.6 x +2.0% = 43.2
UK 23.2 x -0.28 = -6.46
Germany 7.8 x +0.22 = +1.71
etc.
etc.

Once added up you would then divide by 100. Does that make sense to get a gauge of how the fund would do that day?

Yes, except that the currency for each country also effects the price. So, for a general idea you could add the index percent to the cuurency percent change (make sure you get the sign right here esp. With the yen). We have had in the past folks who had an algorithm and would post daily. I think it was 350Z wasn't it? Anyway, it's hard to figure and even harder to apply chart indicators. Just use the Efa for that. It's not exactly accurate but works ok.

 

[JTH]

Yes, except that the currency for each country also effects the price. So, for a general idea you could add the index percent to the cuurency percent change (make sure you get the sign right here esp. With the yen). We have had in the past folks who had an algorithm and would post daily. I think it was 350Z wasn't it? Anyway, it's hard to figure and even harder to apply chart indicators. Just use the Efa for that. It's not exactly accurate but works ok.

Oh and the IFT 12:00 Noon cutoff time. It makes me wonder why TSP has a fund that only the top 1% know how to estimate.... Smoke & mirrors

 

[JTH]

If I were wanting to take on some risk and thought the markets were going to put in a reversal, the I-fund would be an appealing choice due to the utter damage it has taken. But please let me say this, just because this fund has been beaten down, it does not mean it is entitled to catch up with the other indexes.

 

[Birchtree]

The ECB is going to ride to the rescue at any moment. Staying the course.

 

[clester]

I fund will rocket today. Markets and currencies are both lined up positive for I fund. I guess the Italian elections are going well?

 

[JTH]

Anyone chasing this?

 

[wavecoder]

no. daily chart is showing 2 bearish engulfing candles since last week, and weekly chart looks like pullback mode. i'll visit the i fund later, but not now. I personally don't like the looks of it atm

 

[clester]

I fund will rocket today. Markets and currencies are both lined up positive for I fund. I guess the Italian elections are going well?

The elections turned the markets back down. Man, this feels like we've been here before.

 

[PLANO]

The elections turned the markets back down. Man, this feels like we've been here before.

Yep, it looks like the Liberal is leading in Italy and that put everything in a downward fall.

 

[wavecoder]

that and our politicians can't agree on the seCastration issue

 

[Kaufmanrider]

I just don't get it. Currency or not. Today, EAFE was up .81%, yet it appears the share price on the TSP.Gov website shows a loss of .05 per share.

I am holding Large Cap International in my Brokerage account, SCHF (Schwab ETF) and I gained .85% today.

Lesson, buy in Brokerage, stay away in TSP.

 

[tsptalk]

I see the EAFE Index down 1.61% today in dollars.

MSCI Index Performance - Standard (Large & Mid) - MSCI

 

[JTH]

I just don't get it. Currency or not. Today, EAFE was up .81%, yet it appears the share price on the TSP.Gov website shows a loss of .05 per share.

I am holding Large Cap International in my Brokerage account, SCHF (Schwab ETF) and I gained .85% today.

Lesson, buy in Brokerage, stay away in TSP.

The negative favorable value from the previous day carried over, welcome to the I-Fund, breaker of hearts, lover of none...

 

[JTH]

Perhaps good news for those down on your luck I-funders, we see potential for a tweezers top...