Playing the I fund

[Greg]

Msci = 0.072%

 

[sugarandspice]

Just a penny today.

 

[Robo5555]

We'll prob drop 12 cents today.

 

[Wizard]

I say closer to .20 per share.

 

[G. Will Ickers]

I say that it will be down 9 cents to $18.59.

 

[Robo5555]

Today we'll go down a nickel.

 

[Wheels]

Today we'll go down a nickel.

TSP Board did one of their re-valuations today. This will benefit those who were not in the I fund today, but are starting tomorrow. I know cheapshot is one of those people. Did anyone else make the jump? Of course it will hurt those who were in the I fund today but got out for tomorrow. Anybody in that category?

Dave
<><

 

[Brak]

The EFA was down 0.74 and the I Fund was down 0.76. I don't know what the dollar did but if it was close to no change then the 14 cent loss for the I fund looks correct.

Yesterday the EFA was down 0.14 yet the I Fund gained a penny.

 

[Wheels]

The EFA was down 0.74 and the I Fund was down 0.76. I don't know what the dollar did but if it was close to no change then the 14 cent loss for the I fund looks correct.

Yesterday the EFA was down 0.14 yet the I Fund gained a penny.

The I fund does not track the EFA, it tracks the EAFE. The fact that the EFA and today's I fund price were close is due in part to coincidence.

Dave
<><

 

[Brak]

I realize what the I Fund tracks. The EFA is an ETF that also also tracks the MSCI-EAFE. The reason I use it is that it is the best symbol I can use for my ticker. I find that it is not too far off and useful when making a noon-time decision. Is it possible to track the EAFE intra-day?

 

[Wheels]

I use the EFA ticker myself to get a general idea but I find it can be way off sometimes. As far as I know there is no way to track the MSCI EAFE intraday. It is posted daily on MSCI's website between 2:30 and 3:00 but that doesn't help in making a noon time decision.

Dave
<><

 

[Soldat]

Like many have said before me, the I fund will normally correlate with the EAFE indexes, and the fluctuations in USD strength between between noon and noon. The TSP "fair valuation" comes into play when the dollar substantially loses or gains strength past noon on that day. It doesn't always happen, but when it does, chances are it's going to be pi55ing off someone.

With that said, very few day or position traders (of indexes) beat the averages for S or I. Of course, buy and hold is not very exciting. Different strokes for different folks. Good trading; fortune favors the brave.

 

[Phragmanic]

Is it practical to be both a "buy & hold" and a "position trader"? I've considered carrying a balance in I fund, say, 30% or total portfolio and then trying to position trade in C, S, & I as the situation suggests. It'd be nice to have a cushion with growth in I fund... Thoughts??

 

[Soldat]

Manic,

I would say it's feasible. I, myself, considered a 50% I fund buy and hold position but ended up just tossing it all into the I fund. I will buy I all the way up to my separation. Just make sure you have a plan. There has never been a plan that failed, only a failure to plan.

I see the dollar showing weakness, and from the market posture, it does also. Perhaps the EAFE indexes shall return much of the same~20% gain this year as they did last year. Last year, though, the dollar gains against the Y & E cuased the I fund to finish up~14%. This year, perhaps the dollar will lose some ground and we could see overall gain in the I fund of~30%. That would be a beautiful sight to see for those invested in ETF's. In the end, only time will tell, and the rest is speculation.

Regards,
Soldat

 

[JOVARN]

Oil prices down on US reserves going up. Think Bush is saving oil for the long drive ahead to IRAN. You know Hummers eat up a lot of gas.
I moved 60S 30I 10C
I hope the headline on Monday morning doesn’t read Israel make move against Iran.
Have a good weekend

 

[LA_Guy]

Today, EAFE index is down only (0.23%) but I fund is down by 12 cents. This is crazy!!

 

[Birchtree]

It's by design

LA Guy,

Unfortunately, the I fund games are designed to make you crazy. That's why if you are not svelt of hand it might be better just to accumulate on a dollar cost average basis - pistol shootin this one is to fast a moving target.

Dennis

 

[Fivetears]

Sharp Shooting not an Option.

LA Guy,

Pistol shootin' this one is too fast a moving target.

Dennis

Sir Birchtree... you could not have said it any better.
The solution?
NUKE IT, LA! You're bound to hit that speedy little bastage.
100% I FUND.

 

[Wheels]

Today, EAFE index is down only (0.23%) but I fund is down by 12 cents. This is crazy!!

Incorrect. The EAFE was down .623%. 12 cents was what we should have expected. The link that Tom has at the bottom of this page is the EFA, a fund that tracks the EAFE.

Tom, you might want to consider re-labeling that link. It's causing a great deal of confusion, particularly amongst newer members who haven't been involved in this discussion before.

Dave
<><

 

[tsptalk]

Tom, you might want to consider re-labeling that link. It's causing a great deal of confusion, particularly amongst newer members who haven't been involved in this discussion before.

Got it. Thanks.