Markets

Consumer sentiment fell in March, with the final reading 89.1, its lowest since October 2016, down from 95.9 in the preliminary read.

Demonstrating compliance with pricing and supervision rules has been challenging in the COVID-19-influenced market.

An obscure board authorized in 1973 and categorized as "military affairs and defense" approved Gov. Gina Raimondo's request despite questions about constitutionality.

"Like all businesses, we are operating in a period of uncertainty which may last several months," Virgin Trains/Brightline President Patrick Goddard said.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., pledged Thursday the massive spending bill would pass on a voice vote even though some objections were expected during a Friday morning vote.

Benchmark yields fell another 50 to 60 basis points, dropping them more than 1.5% in just four days. Meanwhile, a $450 million taxable new-issue came to market and was eight times oversubscribed.

Initial jobless claims surged, as expected, hitting an all-time high of a seasonally adjusted 3.283 million in the week ended March 21, as the impacts of the coronavirus-driven closures showed in the numbers, the Labor Department said. The previous high for claims was 695,000 in October 1982.

With outflows occurring, Eric Kazatsky, muni strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence, maintains that muni appetite will vary directly with the credit hits that will be sustained in this environment. In some ways, he sees a return to pricing for the risk and the fundamentals. Taxable munis and ESG bonds will continue to gain in popularity. The future depends on the level of fiscal support in order to emerge from the crisis. John Hallacy hosts. Taped two weeks ago

Municipal benchmark yields were lowered by 60 to 80 basis points across the curve. Some trades pointed to nearly a 1% bump on short-term paper while state and local governments grapple with downgrades and revenue shortfalls.

Thirty-six firms made the cut, and eight didn't, when Illinois reviewed broker-dealer qualifications for new underwriting pools.