Markets

The old saw that rising rates are bad for bonds may not really be the case, one new report says.

Illinois lawmakers returned to work this week with less than two months to settle on a budget.

Despite the previous technical difficulties of supply and demand, municipals are poised for a potentially stronger second quarter, according to Jeffrey Lipton, managing director of credit research at Oppenheimer & Co.

Wholesale inventories rose 1.0% in February, while wholesale sales rose 1.0% in the month.

Small business optimism retreated from its 35-year high in February, but remains among the highest in survey history, the National Federation of Independent Business said Tuesday.

Final demand PPI rose by 0.3% in March, well ahead of the 0.1% gain expected.

Though the legal setback is "harmful" to the Chicago Park District's plan to increase pension funding, it doesn't cause a budgetary crisis, S&P said.

Traders and muni professionals said it was a typical light Monday in the municipal market — with favorable market technicals mixed with some underlying concern on the political front.

Morgan Stanley will run the books on several negotiated deals that are part of about $360 million in local government borrowing planned.

Retail buyers of municipal bonds got first shot at New York City’s big general obligation bond sale on Monday.