James Ramage

Outflows from municipal bond mutual funds may be coming to an end, depending on where one looks for U.S. fund flow numbers.

JPMorgan has brought in several new bankers and a new head of muni research to expand its public finance coverage across the country.

Municipal bond mutual funds had net outflows of $108 million in the week ended May 18, according to Lipper FMI.

The popularity of direct loans and purchases of variable-rate debt continues to grow. But as more bank credit facilities for VR debt come due this year for municipal issuers, the alternative financing products present numerous risks that issuers must monitor, according to a new report by Standard & Poor’s.

Municipal bond issuance has plummeted in 2011, but bankers say they haven’t panicked or had second thoughts about their commitment to the underwriting business.

Robert “Bob” Jackman wasn’t present Thursday night at the award ceremony and fundraising dinner for the Municipal Forum of New York to speak to old friends and former colleagues about his affection for the public finance industry — his business.

CastleOak Securities LP has launched a municipal bond desk, anchoring it with six veterans of the business.

Municipal bond mutual funds that report their data weekly had net outflows of $776.32 million in the week ended May 4, according to Lipper FMI.

Jefferies & Co. brought aboard a muni securities veteran as part of its plan to bulk up its fixed-income trading business.

Fitch Ratings looked within its own walls to find new leadership for its analytical groups.

The municipal market capped off another light week of issuance with yields extending their rally.

The municipal market capped off another light week of issuance with yields extending their rally.

The muni market got a jolt Thursday when Morgan Stanley boosted the size of its Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia offering during institutional pricing.

The muni market got a jolt Thursday when Morgan Stanley boosted the size of its Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia offering during institutional pricing.

The severe scarcity of issuance in the municipal market trumped news from the Federal Reserve Wednesday in providing direction for muni yields.

The severe scarcity of issuance in the municipal market trumped news from the Federal Reserve Wednesday in providing direction for muni yields.

While tax-exempt yields declined for a 10th consecutive session Tuesday, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport accelerated pricing on the largest tax-exempt issuance thus far this year, a deal that was snapped up by supply-hungry investors.

While tax-exempt yields declined for a 10th consecutive session Tuesday, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport accelerated pricing on the largest tax-exempt issuance thus far this year, a deal that was snapped up by supply-hungry investors.

Yields in the municipal market declined for the ninth consecutive session Monday, as investors sought more yield than could be found in Treasuries.

The municipal bond market saw yields firm for a ninth straight day.