James Ramage

Muni bond mutual fund outflows shrank to the least since late May, an indication that investor demand is trickling back to the marketplace.

Brownstone Investment Group, a New York-based fixed-income investment firm with a municipal bond department, opened an office in San Francisco to expand its presence to the West Coast.

Investortools has joined with Kalotay Analytics to give its municipal bond portfolio-manager clients a more accurate gauge to find prices as interest rates change.

The recent rally in high-yield municipal bonds should continue, driven by a lack of supply, as investors reposition their portfolios, muni watchers say.

A rally in the municipal bond market this week couldn’t slow the stampede from muni bond mutual funds, which recorded outflows for a 17th consecutive week.

The municipal market faces more volatility after the Federal Reserve decided against reducing its stimulus efforts, as investors and other participants shift their attention to the looming fiscal debate, debt ceiling and the selection of a new Fed chairman.

Tradeweb Markets agreed to buy BondDesk Group LLC in a move that would combine two operators of alternative trading systems that serve the municipal bond market, among other fixed income marketplaces.

Municipal bond pros are slashing their forecasts for long-term issuance this year, saying the industry is likely to shrink after climbing interest rates curtailed demand for refundings.

The municipal bond market rally failed to encourage investors, who pulled a net $1.90 billion from muni bond mutual funds for the week ending Sept. 11.

The plunge in long-term municipal bond volume for 2013 continued as issuers in August floated 37.7% less than they did over the same period in 2012, the latest sign that rising interest rates are curbing issuer demand.

Municipal bond yields have jumped enough from historic lows they reached in November that investors are beginning to see some attractive ratios, creating opportunities for both buyers and holders of tax-exempt securities.

The market for variable-rate demand obligations has improved this year and is primed for a turnaround, according to a research report Moody's Investors Service published Friday.

Slow trading, fading Treasuries and a slender calendar pushed yields higher in the municipal market Monday.

Meandering Treasuries and light supply on the week have bumped muni yields modestly higher crossing noon.

The municipal market appears content to follow Treasuries and appears slightly weaker Monday on little activity.

As the municipal market continues its struggles at the long end of the yield curve, investor demand remains tepid, as muni bond mutual funds that report flows weekly recorded outflows of $1.21 billion.

Academy Securities, an investment bank founded by military veterans to employ veterans in finance, brought in an inaugural class of summer interns who are both college students and veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

With the recent increase in interest rates, the de minimis risk grows for municipal bond investors.

Lebenthal & Co., LLC, next month will introduce MuniAxis to improve liquidity for trading odd-lot municipal bonds in the secondary market.

Muni bond mutual fund outflows have fallen from recent levels, but remain heavy, at $974 million.