Markets

Muni mutual funds saw outflows after 23 weeks of inflows as LSEG Lipper reported investors pulled $316.2 million for the week ending Dec. 11. High-yield municipal bond funds, though, saw inflows of $192.3 million.

Most on the Street expect issuance to come in around $500 billion, but a few think volume will be much higher, primarily because of potential changes to the tax exemption. Most firms expect refunding volumes to also grow in 2025.

Municipal investors are more focused on the final new-issues coming down the pike and repositioning books as 2024 heads to a close. ICI reported another week of inflows into municipal bond mutual funds.

Wednesday marks the 10-year anniversary of Detroit's exit from bankruptcy. Its Chapter 9 declaration in 2013 was the largest municipal bankruptcy in the U.S.

"With strong demand, rate cuts and favorable technicals, the muni market — outside of an unexpected shock — is set up to perform well over the next couple of months," said Daryl Clements, a municipal portfolio manager at AllianceBernstein.

The rating agency cited an easing of the state's fiscal challenges for lifting the outlook on the state's Aa2 rating to stable from negative.

Bond Buyer senior reporter Keeley Webster hosted a wide-ranging discussion on the state's fall bond slate, housing, and second-term priorities with California Treasurer Fiona Ma and Deputy Treasurer of Public Finance John Sheldon.

Munis are in the black so far this month, with the Bloomberg Municipal Index at +0.33% in December and +2.88% year-to-date, the high-yield index is at +0.27% in December and returning 8.41% in 2024, while taxable munis are returning 0.43% so far this month and 4.58% in 2024.

Principal Street Partners will acquire the bankrupt firm that specialized in high-yield bonds issued for senior living facilities and charter schools.

Connecticut is poised to ramp up transportation borrowing, after years of consistently issuing less debt than it had the capacity and authority to sell.