James Ramage

Municipal bond issuance will stay light in the coming week, rising to $4.89 billion, as the calendar offers little to sate investors' growing hunger for tax-exempt paper.

Inflows to municipal bond mutual funds continued for a second straight week, at just $86 million, for the week ended Jan. 22.

A robust municipal bond market continued on its upward trajectory, comfortably absorbing new issues and driving prices higher.

Municipal market investors, laden with cash, are driving yields lower Wednesday as activity has accelerated in both the primary and secondary markets.

Municipal bond yields have stalled so far Wednesday morning in the face of light activity.

The blizzard that slammed into the east coast Tuesday managed to squelch a budding rally in the municipal bond market.

Some trading in maturities at the long end of the municipal bond yield curve has given the market a somewhat stronger tone as Tuesday's session crosses noon.

Light activity and few buy orders have held municipal bond levels in place to start Tuesday's session.

Municipal bond demand should increase in 2014 in an environment of expected higher interest rates, improved economic growth, lower issuance and richer valuations to Treasuries.

In another sign of the improving tenor of the municipal bond market, muni mutual funds recorded their first inflows in 34 weeks, Lipper FMI numbers showed.

Trading flows in the municipal bond secondary market accelerated as Wednesday's session progressed, but tax-exempt yields slackened.

The municipal market secondary has quieted as managers of the week's largest deal held a second retail order period.

Wednesday's session opened with moderate trading in the municipal bond market, giving it a solid tone.

The municipal market steadied through the arrival of some of the week's deals, including the retail pricing of its largest.

A stable municipal market crossed into the afternoon with the arrival of some of the week's larger deals.

The municipal market opened Tuesday mostly flat, marked by moderate trading and few sellers.

Municipal bond yields pushed lower Monday amid moderate trading in the secondary, a sixth day of gains.

A municipal market that traders describe as quietly firm awaits the arrival of the week's new-issue calendar.

The municipal bond market has continued on its course Monday, with yields firming beyond the front end of the curve.

Municipal bonds remain attractive even after their divergence from Treasuries this past week, industry watchers say, suggesting the recent signs of strength in the market may carry into the new year.