Markets

The value of the municipal bond market decreased by 4.3% in the third quarter of 2022, said Pat Luby, a strategist at CreditSights.

Outflows continued as Refinitiv Lipper reported $1.946 billion was pulled from municipal bond mutual funds in the week ending Wednesday after $3.094 billion of outflows in the prior week.

2022 saw rising rates, low issuance, massive fund outflows and overall volatility.

"With only a few days remaining in the year, muni bonds have had a tough year losing roughly 8.44% for the year," said Jason Wong, vice president of municipals at AmeriVet Securities.

While hope remains for certain muni priorities in 2023, others look highly unlikely to gain traction in an ideologically-split Congress.

"Although late-year volumes may be smaller, the market tone is holding firm on the premise of no supply/rollover demand — somewhat typical for December but noteworthy for the level of volatility the market has endured," said Kim Olsan, senior vice president of municipal bond trading at FHN Financial.

Nearly 20% of respondents to a HilltopSecurities high-yield team survey ranked liquidity and equity as their major concern for 2023.

Munis were unchanged Friday heading into the Christmas hiatus as light trading preceded the early market close, according to Michael Pietronico, chief executive officer at Miller Tabak Asset Management. 

Outflows continued as Refinitiv Lipper reported $3.094 billion was pulled from municipal bond mutual funds in the week ending Wednesday after $1.217 billion of outflows the week prior.

The state Department of Transportation said it is temporarily delaying its latest issuance of trunk line road bonds.