Markets

Maryland is preparing for upcoming bond sales as the state treasurer responds to a Moody's downgrade by suggesting the state part ways with the rating agency.

Issuers routinely refund 5% bonds in year 10, and the resulting savings can be significant. It is notable that although refunding is typically associated with declining interest rates, 5% bonds are refunded even if rates rise.

"We're seeing some of the additional instability and other things come into play," said Dan Genter, CEO of Genter Capital Management.

"Light demand" for Wednesday's 20-year Treasury bond auction "propelled yields to the nosebleeds and equities to the basement," said José Torres, senior economist at Interactive Brokers.

Samantha Funk will step up as new head of public finance at PNC after Rob Dailey retires at the end of July.

The "risk to the tax exemption appears to have dropped sharply as of last week ... taking with it the hypothetical risk of a supply surge ahead of any end-date for borrowers' exemption access," said Matt Fabian, a partner at Municipal Market Analytics.

Congress needs to lift limitations on tax-exempt private activity bonds, say transportation advocates.

Chicago is "diligently preparing" to sell debt, now that the bond market has mostly recovered from April's turmoil, Chief Financial Officer Jill Jaworski said.

"We have got to keep the money coming in to transit," said Sen. Elizabeth Warren D- Mass.

"Munis are no longer moving on headlines; they're reacting to rates and supply," which is playing out again Monday after a choppy March and April, said James Pruskowski, chief investment officer at 16Rock Asset Management.