Finance

Moody's Ratings analysts revised the outlook to stable from negative on the expectation that states and locals will fill an $8 billion operations funding gap.

New-issue volume has topped $50 billion over the past few weeks, said AllianceBernstein in a weekly report.

Falling occupancy figures, staffing shortages, and rising labor costs have elevated the sector's risk, with Greenwich Investment Management's bankruptcy yet another example of how the sector requires thorough credit analysis.

This week's surge in issuance, which tops $14 billion, is "likely going to keep a lid on any enthusiasm," Birch Creek strategists said in a weekly report.

Connecticut's GO deal is expected to benefit from its improving fiscal reputation, embodied in two rating outlook revisions to positive ahead of the pricing.

While particpants expect some pressure in the near-term with more than $16 billion on tap, they also say the current yield and ratio levels offer investors opportunity.

The first chip in the state's triple-A crown comes ahead of plans to competitively auction $1.2 billion of general obligation bonds next week.

May volume "surprised on the high end and it has been one of the fastest starts to the year historically," said James Pruskowski, chief investment officer at 16Rock Asset Management.

Cabrera Capital Markets is among the firms that has capitalized on the exits of UBS and Citi from municipal bond underwriting to add senior bankers.

Despite losses, munis are "being set up nicely" as the summer season approaches, said Jeff Lipton, a research analyst and market strategist.