James Ramage

Muni bond mutual funds continued their hot hand for a fifth straight week.

Muni bond yields have mostly started 2012 where 2011 left off: outperforming Treasury yields.

The law firm Ballard Spahr promoted William C. Rhodes to lead its public finance department as chairman.

A quiet day of trading Friday closed out the pre-holiday week for the municipal bond market

A quiet day of trading Friday closed out the pre-holiday week for the municipal bond market. Few traders were around to work the phones. And those who were weren’t willing to cut offerings.

Although activity is understandably sparse, there is enough to show a slightly weaker municipal market at the long end Friday. But the weakness is mostly a function of few bids and little overall interest, said a lone trader manning his firm’s desk in New Jersey.

The municipal market didn't need to do a lot to have a decent week.

The holiday doldrums didn’t keep investors from putting money into municipal bond mutual funds.

New issuance in Muni Land kicks into holiday mode this week.

Investors don't see too many avenues for yield in the financial markets these days. But municipal bond mutual funds must still look attractive to them, because they continued to pour money into them for a second straight week.

Municipal bond yields are so far capping an interesting year with a fine run to the holiday season.

Despite a dearth of activity in the primary or secondary markets Friday, muni yields held the past week's gains. They closed the day's session steady across the curve, according to the Municipal Market Data scale.

NEW YORK — Despite a dearth of activity in the primary or secondary markets Friday, muni yields held the past week's gains. They closed the day's session steady across the curve, according to the Municipal Market Data scale.

Issuers have at least one more week’s worth of solid new supply planned for the municipal market.

The muni market decided to sleep in Friday morning. Traders noted little activity after so dramatic a week of bond-grabbing in both the primary and secondary markets.

The municipal market maintained a strong tone Thursday in the face of limited paper and activity.

Reinvestment cash jolted the municipal bond market into life this past week.

The municipal market maintains a strong tone for the day in the face of limited paper. But while the European Central Bank cut rates, its reluctance to become a lender of last resort has pushed Treasury yields lower. Muni yields are likely to ride in the wake of rallying Treasury yields, traders say, enough to maintain the week’s gains.

The municipal market Thursday has downshifted somewhat from the past few days’ Grand-Prix race for paper.

Well-priced new issuance and a "fully active" secondary on Wednesday fueled another robust day in the municipal market.