Markets

Raul Amezcua, who once led Stifel's California and Arizona banking teams, hired several key bankers at Ramirez & Co. since joining the firm early last year.

"It was a misguided effort from the beginning to ever use the Bond Commission and any of the work that it does to send a political message to anyone for any reason," said Gov. John Bel Edwards.

The Investment Company Institute reported $230 million of inflows into muni bond mutual funds in the week ending August 17. ETFs see second week of outflows.

Join Peter O'Neill, Director and Senior Fixed Income Portfolio Manager, at Bank of America, and Blake Lynch, Head of Business Development, IMTC, as they discuss the role of separately managed accounts in the muni market with The Bond Buyer's Lynne Funk.

Don't expect much new information to come from Jackson Hole this year analysts say, as the data-dependent FOMC will rely on incoming economic numbers in September to decide the proper size rate hike.

Losses for August climbed last week, with month-to-date returns in the red at negative 1.40% on the Bloomberg muni index, high-yield seeing 0.99% losses, taxables at 2.01% losses and the impact index losing 1.70%.

The Minnesota Airports Commission is also in the bond market with a $386 million deal this week, followed by Chicago's $1.77 billion transaction next week.

The rating agency highlighted the state government's recent payments to its underfunded state pension system.

Investors will be greeted Monday with a decrease in supply with the new-issue calendar estimated at $6.711 billion, down from total sales of $10.318 billion.

Investors pulled $229.263 million out of muni bond mutual funds in the latest week, versus the $635.177 million of outflows the prior week, according to Refinitiv Lipper. High-yield continues to see inflows.