Markets

S&P proposed a new rating methodology for local governments. The chief changes would be to increase the emphasis on numerical sub-ratings, formalize the role of a state's institutional framework, introduce weighting measures to emphasize the factors, and to formalize a flow pattern for the rating process.

The municipal market's calendar doesn't appear to be slowing down this week.

After a short-lived period of inflows, tax-exempt money market funds lost $1.93 billion and total net assets dipped to $288.75 billion in the week ended Feb. 27, according to the Money Fund Report, a service of iMoneyNet.com.

The municipal market traded sideways over much of the past week in the face of a large influx of new supply and hefty muni bond fund flows.

A spectre that periodically haunts the municipal bond market looms once again: the threat to alter the market's sacrosanct tax-exempt status.

The largest bond deal so far in 2012 will lead the way on the heftiest calendar yet this year.

The municipal market has had a mixed week of rising yields and noticeable demand for new supply.

Municipal bond mutual funds had another week of strong inflows amid the market's risk-on trade this past holiday-shortened week.

Tax-exempt money market funds recouped about half of last week’s losses when they added $1.2 billion of new cash and total net assets inched up to $290.69 billion in the week ended Feb. 20, according to the Money Fund Report, a service of iMoneyNet.com.