Markets

Economic indicators released on Tuesday showed good signs in both consumer confidence and home prices.

One muni bond sector that had been a go-to for heavier allocations was utilities, according to Kim Olsan.

"Large, unacceptable risks" remain in the financial system, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis told the Conference of Institutional Investors.

Chicago's $1.2 billion airport refunding will smooth out fiscal operations through next year amid a massive decline in airline travel.

The Puerto Rico Housing Finance Authority will be in the market with almost $250 million of public housing project refunding bonds.

S&P said the downgrade is the result of what is likely a one-off analytic error in 2005; the bonds in question are held by Fannie Mae and have never traded.

The firm hired seven new senior-level bankers in its fixed income division.

Without more fiscal support, the outlook becomes murkier with the possibility of economic data disappointment and volatility in rates, and historically muni demand dampeners, Morgan Stanley said.

While not a huge gain, "claims remain staggeringly high" six months into the economic downturn, analysts say.

Pledging the payroll mobility tax would get the authority a lower Municipal Liquidity Facility interest rate, board member Lawrence Schwartz said.