James Ramage

NEW YORK — The United States is getting closer to surpassing its debt ceiling, but the municipal market doesn’t seem quite as concerned as the politicians involved in resolving the issue.

NEW YORK — The municipal market strode through a reasonably successful week of issuance and secondary trading.

The municipal market paused Wednesday morning to absorb Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke's testimony before the House.

NEW YORK - The municipal market paused Wednesday morning to absorb Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's testimony before the House of Representatives. Then it shrugged and went about its business.

NEW YORK — The muni market has largely ignored the message and tone of the first of two days of congressional testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. The Fed chairman told the House Financial Services Committee that the Fed is prepared to act, to either tighten or loosen monetary policy, if necessary. In response, Treasury yields have risen throughout the day, but not dramatically.

NEW YORK — The municipal market opened up firm Wednesday, on the heels of a strong day of trading and new issuance. Activity in the secondary is light, with little product, said a trader in New York.

A strong municipal market Tuesday ignored bouncing Treasuries and pulled investors in from the sidelines with favorable ratios and attractive pricing on new ­issuance.

NEW YORK — A strong municipal market Tuesday ignored bouncing Treasuries and pulled investors in from the sidelines with favorable ratios and attractive pricing on new issuance.

NEW YORK — A weakening in Treasury yields late Tuesday morning has enticed market participants in from the sidelines, creating a more active municipal secondary.

NEW YORK — Dealers in the municipal secondary market have been sitting on the sidelines Tuesday morning.

The municipal market added a healthy pink hue to its complexion Monday. Early new issuance found a ready audience in the primary, while traders showed a willingness to move pricing levels for high-grade product in the secondary.

NEW YORK — The municipal market showed a healthy pink hue to its complexion Monday. Early new issuance found a ready audience in the primary, while traders showed a willingness to move pricing levels for high-grade product in the secondary.

NEW YORK — Large deals in the primary are moving well through the muni market heading into the afternoon. Amid a general flight to quality, retail investors have taken an interest in some of the larger deals that have hit the market on Monday.

NEW YORK — The week’s new inventory can’t seem to reach the muni market fast enough. One trader in Florida said there is little product anywhere. “There are fewer bonds than usual,” he said. “It’s hard to find anything to sink your teeth into.”

The municipal market shouldered through a poorly received employment report and the subsequent bungee jump by Treasury yields Friday.

NEW YORK — The municipal market soldiered through a poorly received employment report and the subsequent plunge by Treasury yields Friday.

NEW YORK — A strong rally in Treasuries has produced a minor rally in munis so far Friday. But more favorable ratios to Treasuries are setting the muni market up for a solid next week, as new issuance should increase.

NEW YORK — If the municipal market were looking for a sign that the economy was leaning toward recovery or further weakness, it got it Friday morning.

The municipal market punched below its weight Thursday. Whether it was the dearth of new issuance, the sclerotic secondary market, or the fact that too many retail investors stood on the sidelines, there was a pronounced lack of interest in munis.

Revisiting an old trend, municipal bond mutual fund flows saw outflows once again. They had seen net inflows for three out of the four previous weeks.