Finance

The company has the option to defer interest payments three times without triggering a formal default.

Inflation reports may drive markets in 2026 since the labor market is "sending mixed messages," said Kevin O'Neil, associate portfolio manager and senior research analyst at Brandywine Global.

Next year, the "muni market could see stable to improving returns depending on yield curve positioning, with better performance possible at the long end of the curve," said Jonathan Rocafort, managing director and head of fixed income solutions at Parametric.

The New York City Transitional Finance Authority leads the new-issue calendar with $2 billion of future tax-secured subordinate refunding bonds.

The well-regarded pediatric hospital system is not alone in facing downgrades amid the myriad challenges healthcare has experienced in recent years.

Kansas City Federal Reserve President Jeffrey Schmid and Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said in statements Friday that their dissents from this week's interest rate decision were spurred by inflation concerns and a lack of sufficient economic data.

Both Janney and Huntington are among the top 30 underwriters in the muni market and are neck in neck.

"With its third straight rate cut, the Fed is sending a clear message: it's no longer just watching inflation — it's managing risk," said Gina Bolvin, president of Bolvin Wealth Management Group.

Muni yields were little changed, and have barely moved over the past several trading sessions, said Kim Olsan, senior fixed income portfolio manager at NewSquare.

While muni returns moved lower last week, year-to-date returns still hover around 4%, said Jason Wong, vice president of municipals at AmeriVet Securities.

Concerns about Brightline have dragged down performance in the high yield sector this year.

Issuers mostly avoided pricing deals in the previous weeks the Fed met this year, but that's not the case this week, said Pat Luby, head of municipal strategy at CreditSights, and Wilson Lees, an analyst at the firm.

States face broadening credit challenges, and while local governments have shown resilience, school districts are more at risk, S&P Global Ratings said.

The tax-exempt muni market has performed "exceptionally well" so far this week, outperforming USTs, said J.P. Morgan strategists led by Peter DeGroot.

Robust issuance this year has contributed to muni underperformance relative to other asset classes, but it also has "improved after-tax relative value for investors in higher tax brackets," said Sam Weitzman of Western Asset.

The muni market is dealing with elevated supply this week and secondary flows have "reacted in tandem," said Kim Olsan, senior fixed income portfolio manager at NewSquare Capital.

This movement comes on the heels of muni yields remaining relatively unchanged throughout November.

The muni market recorded its fourth straight month of positive returns in November and December is likely to keep the streak going with another strong month to round out the year.

King County, Washington plans a $422.2 million competitive sale of limited tax general obligation bonds for Wednesday.

Preliminary November issuance figures are at $37.054 billion, up 45.5% year-over-year, according to LSEG.