Markets

Despite outsized volatility and liquidity challenges ahead, the possibility of relief for munis is not too far off, analysts say, but USTs lead the way for exempts.

Despite the pandemic, operating revenues increased 7.6% from 2019 to 2020 and 8.25% from 2020 to 2021.

S&P followed Fitch and Moody's in raising the state's ratings but the upgrades so far haven't halted the state's spread widening amid market turmoil.

Munis again outperformed U.S. Treasuries. Participants note that municipal to Treasury ratios and nominal yield levels are “extremely attractive,” which is generating some renewed interest among the retail crowd.

Shorter-dated and high-yield credit will be more likely to succeed in the current volatile environment.

Investors pulled more from municipal bond mutual funds in the latest week, with Refinitiv Lipper reporting $2.669 billion of outflows, though down from $2.875 billion of outflows in the previous week.

Illinois' latest upgrade is its fourth over the last year and moves its general obligation rating three notches away from the cusp of junk, where it once sat.

Analysts agree with Moody's that the island still faces financial risks.

Outflows continue with the Investment Company Institute reporting $5.371 billion pulled from muni bond mutual funds in the week ending April 27. Exchange-traded funds saw inflows at $1 billion.

The municipal market was marked by some skittishness among investors on Tuesday as a new month gets underway.