James Ramage

The municipal market continues to gain from an extended rally that has boosted fixed income securities. Investors have embraced bonds as they see volatile equities and want security, if not yield.

The tide of investor demand stays high for municipal bond mutual funds. A strong week of record-low muni bond yields on the intermediate and long ends of the curve marked the week ended July 25.

Loren D. Carlson, an authority for more than 30 years on public and nonprofit organization finance, particularly public and structured finance processes, died on Thursday. He was 68.

If municipal bond market observers feel there are other time bombs out there waiting to detonate that resemble the accusations surrounding the manipulation of Libor, they won't be found in variable-rate debt tied to the SIFMA municipal swap index.

The municipal market expects a dip in supply for the primary this week

Largely stable rates highlighted a subdued municipal market this week.

Municipal bond mutual funds continue to see strong and growing demand from investors. Even though, the week was marked by modest moves in prices throughout most of the yield curve, money poured into bond funds for the week ended July 18.

Morningstar entered the analyst research sector for public finance Monday as it unveiled its fundamental municipal research offering. The research will focus on 100 municipal issuers and reports for about one million muni bonds.

Large issues from Illinois and New York lead the new-issuance charge in the municipal market this week. Total potential volume is expected to climb to $8.14 billion this week.

The municipal market has been fairly energized this week by the simple economics of supply and demand.

The market continued to show its confidence in municipal bond mutual funds with strong inflows following a holiday week of relative inactivity.

The municipal market posted another strong day of buying Wednesday, even though another municipality in California wallowed in a state of financial calamity.

Municipal bonds continue to rally on a day when large new issues arrived for retail investors to pick over.

The municipal market tone remains firm Wednesday, stemming from pent-up post-Independence Day momentum.

The municipal bond market rallied Tuesday as new issuance found willing investors and tax-exempt yields outperformed those of Treasuries.

The municipal bond market Tuesday afternoon is winding its way through a modest rally.

The tax-exempt market continues to reflect a firmer tone early in Tuesday's session.

A tightening of municipal bond yields in various pockets of the secondary market highlighted an otherwise quiet trading session Monday.

A slow municipal market greeted eager traders and investors, fresh from the holiday week.

A return to normal levels of supply, strong ratios to Treasuries and other encouraging factors have the municipal market poised for a strong week.