Markets

Home prices rose 0.5% on an annual basis in August, not seasonally adjusted.

The seasonally adjusted Milwaukee Report on Business increased to 63.61 in October from 60.24 in September.

The Employment Cost Index rose in the third quarter to see an expected 0.7% increase, up from the 0.5% gain in second quarter, data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Tuesday showed.

The Midwest Economy Index declined to negative 0.09 in September from positive 0.08 in August.

Municipals were firmer on Monday, as market participants awaited the week's first issues from Montgomery County, Md., and Phoenix.

The end of the probe was disclosed in offering documents for a $67 million refunding deal.

Municipal bonds were little changed in midday activity as the market gets ready to see nearly $7 billion of new paper.

The Federal Open Market Committee meets in Washington this week amid uncertainty over who will lead the Central Bank. What do higher interest rates and a possible new Fed head this mean for the municipal bond market going forward?

Texas factory activity, as measured by the production index, “expanded at a faster pace in October,” according to the monthly Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey.

Municipals were little changed in early activity as the market gets ready to see almost $7 billion of new paper come its way this week, led by issuers from Virginia and Maryland.