Markets

The Bond Buyer weekly yield indexes declined the week ended Jan. 10.

West Penn Allegheny Health System, bondholders and Highmark are continuing talks about a $475 million affiliation agreement, with West Penn possibly avoiding bankruptcy.

Net Inflows among tax-exempt money market funds were $6.18 billion in the week ended Jan. 7, according to The Money Fund Report, a service of iMoneyNet.com.

Investors who hold some of the $4.5 billion of revenue bonds issued for the controversial Prairie State Energy Project can take heart that the project's long-term economics remain favorable for participating public power agencies despite cost overruns, says Moody's Investors Service.

Build America Mutual says it is now offering secondary market insurance, and has hired Hans Hanf to lead the secondary market desk.

The United States not-for-profit sector outlook is stable for 2013, but less favorable than past years, according to Standard & Poor's.

Municipal bond volume estimates this week suggest issuers are emerging slowly from their seasonal hibernation. Potential volume is expected to total $2.74 billion, up from total sales of $11.7 million last week.

Flows to muni bond mutual funds, though still negative, recovered much of their lost ground over the previous two weeks.

After another year of record low municipal bond interest rates, next year is expected to see a slight increase in yields, according to municipal research analysts.