Markets

Some states and local governments "went on spending sprees" with pandemic funds and "got ratings upgrades that didn't have a lot to do with fiscal management," said an investor.

With front-end rates off so much Thursday morning, "liquidity providers backed off noticeably in the morning in terms of bid with offers slow to follow," said Matt Smith, founder and CEO of Spline Data, noting it was likely a response to elevated bids wanted counts, along with rates.

The MINT Act, which would enable Federal Home Loan Bank members to issue tax exempt bonds is working its way through committees in both House and Senate.

A Fitch rating analyst pointed to the school system's elevated long-term liability burden that could be exacerbated by future voter-approved bonds.

Illinois returns to market with about $1.4 billion of GO bonds on Tuesday, with proceeds funding accelerated pension benefit payments and capital projects.

The deal includes a current refunding of general obligation bonds issued in 2016 and a tender offer for bonds that have not yet reached their call date.

The parent of New York's Metropolitan Opera fell deeper into junk-bond status this week, while the New School university has a lower investment-grade rating.

Currently, it's a Goldilocks market, said Kim Olsan, senior fixed income portfolio manager at NewSquare Capital: "Just right enough for just enough people, and steady [enough] that there doesn't seem to be any [big] price pressure at the moment."

There is a lot of money out there, and investors seem comfortable putting it to work.

Congressional leaders are plotting out plans to land the surface transportation reauthorization before a September deadline.