Markets

State agencies and universities are expected to generate 26% less bond volume this fiscal year, according to the Texas Bond Review Board.

The municipal bond market will see $3.35 billion of new deals hit the screens next in a holiday-shortened week. Ipreo estimates weekly volume at $3.35 billion, up from $3.12 billion this week.

Although he continues to maintain that two rate hikes this year are appropriate, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Patrick Harker said Friday he is closely monitoring the flattening yield curve.

Fitch Ratings expects the Puget Sound region could see continued economic growth for two years.

Almost three years after sinking to the verge of a junk, New Jersey’s largest city received an outlook boost from Moody's.

The municipal bond market is gearing up for a lighter-than-average new issue calendar in a holiday-shortened week, with about $3.35 billion of bonds slated for sale.

The value of business inventories rose 0.4% in November as expected by analysts and calculated by MNI after the wholesale inventories report on Wednesday, data released Friday morning by the Commerce Department showed.

The value of retail sales rose 0.4% in December, as expected by analysts, and were up 0.4% excluding motor vehicle sales.

The consumer price index rose by 0.1% in December, as expected, while core CPI posted a stronger-than-expected 0.3% rise.

In the week ended Jan. 11, the weekly average yield to maturity of the Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index rose to 3.84% from 3.81% the previous week. The BB40 Index is based on the price of 40 long-term bonds.