Markets

The district follows up on a taxable refunding with some new money and refunding as the ink dries on pension legislation that removes the threat of insolvency.

Chris Johns and JT Thompson, portfolio managers at the Aquila Group of Funds talk about the possible return of a BABs-like program and if it’s good or bad news for the tax-exempt bond market. They also discuss infrastructure, tax-exempt advance refundings and monetary policy. (21 minutes)

The high-grade muni scales saw cuts of up to four basis points in a continued selloff Monday as the market faces a robust slate of new issues.

Dan Hynes, who was a deputy governor in J.B. Pritzker's administration, will work in public finance and corporate investment banking at Jefferies.

Bond ratings and other positive news of late could merely paper over warning signs of another fiscal cliff.

Month-to-date returns for municipals are in the red with the Bloomberg Fixed Income Indices municipal index returning -0.12%, high-yield at -0.15% and taxables at -0.32%.

U.S. Treasuries sold off by double digits while municipals cut levels by one to three basis points. Refinitiv Lipper reported another $1.55 billion of inflows for the 29th consecutive week.

The city's high leverage drew a two-notch Moody's downgrade ahead of a pension obligation bond deal to pay the unfunded liabilities of its public safety plans.

Both S&P Global Ratings and Moody's Investors Service lifted their outlooks, citing a rebound from pandemic-driven budget pressures.

Municipals continue to stay in their own lane. ICI reported $1.4 billion of inflows in the 28th consecutive week.