Patrick McGee

The municipal bond market rallied for a fifth consecutive session Monday despite broader volatility initiated by Standard & Poor's revising its outlook on Treasury debt to negative from stable.

Bank of America Corp.’s agreement to pay Assured Guaranty Ltd. $1.1 billion in mortgage put-backs sent bond insurer share prices up more than 20% on Friday.

The rally in the municipal bond market continued for a fourth day Friday with yields firming two to four basis points across the curve.

The rally in the municipal bond market continued for a fourth day Friday with yields firming two to four basis points across the curve.

NEW YORK - Bank of America Corp. sent Assured Guaranty Ltd. $850 million in cash Thursday as part of a $1.1 billion settlement on mortgage-related securities announced Friday. The out-of-court settlement is the biggest to date among municipal bond insurers.

The municipal bond market staged another rally Thursday, with certain yields falling as much as four basis points to finish a third straight session firmer.

The municipal bond market staged another rally Thursday with certain yields falling as much as four basis points to finish a third straight session with firmer yields.

The municipal bond market continued to firm for a second session Wednesday as new supply found a market full of ready buyers. The two-day trend marks a reversal from a four-week trend of rising yields.

Municipal bond yields firmed as much as three basis points Tuesday as appetite for safe assets was robust enough for one issuer to move an institutional pricing up a session to Tuesday.

Goldman, Sachs & Co. once again postponed one of the biggest deals of the season, though tax-exempt yields remained flat during Monday’s quiet session.

Longer-term tax-exempt yields jumped two or three basis points Friday, continuing a three-and-a-half week trend of rising rates.

Longer-term tax-exempt yields jumped two or three basis points Friday, continuing a three-and-a-half week trend of rising yields.

Municipal bond yields were mostly steady Thursday despite volatile equity and Treasury markets, which were on high alert following reports of another possible tsunami in Japan.

Municipal bond yields were mostly steady Thursday despite volatile equity and Treasury markets, which were on high alert following reports of another possible tsunami in Japan.

Fitch Ratings is revisiting the often-considered but never-implemented idea of giving municipal bond insurers the ability to enhance credits beyond their own credit grade.

Despite some strength in the afternoon, most municipal bond yields rose Wednesday as Treasuries experienced another significant sell-off.

NEW YORK – Despite some strength in the afternoon, most municipal bonds yields weakened Wednesday as Treasuries experienced another significant sell-off.

Sidley Austin, the third-ranked bond counsel of 2010, expanded its San Francisco public finance practice by hiring a veteran lawyer who boasts 15 years of experience at that very office.

Municipal bond yields continued rising one to two basis points Tuesday as the market struggled to digest a relatively decent slate of new issues.

Municipal bond yields continued rising one to two basis points Tuesday as the market struggled to digest a relatively decent slate of new issues.