Markets

Municipal bonds remained stronger, basking in the afterglow of U.S. election results.

Municipals are described as "idiosyncratic" as the municipal yield curve isn’t automatically tracking the Treasury curve. Coupons matter, outflows are manageable, liquidity is strong and munis are attractive to global buyers. Lord Abbett’s Dan Solender, portfolio manager, and Eric Friedland, head of municipal research, discuss all the factors. John Hallacy is host.

Initial claims for U.S. state unemployment benefits fell by 1,000 to 214,000 in the November 3 week, slightly above expectations.

Munis were buoyed by election results indicating that infrastructure may be on the Congressional agenda.

U.S. consumer debt in September posted the smallest increase in three months.

Munis will see some deals price into a slightly stronger market on the heels of Tuesday's midterm elections.

Massachusetts Democrat Richard Neal, friendly to the muni market, is likely to chair the critical Ways and Means Committee.

Muni activity is being tempered by this week’s election focus, market sources said.

Chicago Heights joins the list of local governments hit with a Moody's downgrade becaue of pension funding strains.

Structural differences insulated Chicago bonds from the worst of the impacts of S&P's new criteria while dragging down the rating of Build Illinois debt.