Markets

Municipal bonds held onto gains as buyers saw two big deals come to market on Thursday.

Municipal bond buyers were seeing the last of the week’s big sales come to market as munis were stronger in quiet secondary activity on Thursday.

The composite of the Leading Economic Index was up 0.2% in May following an unrevised 0.4% increase in April, the Conference Board said Thursday.

Initial claims U.S. state unemployment benefits fell by 3,000 to 218,000 in the June 16 employment survey week.

Manufacturers report continued growth in June, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business respondents reported increasing costs.

The Kinney County Public Facility Corp. issued $9.23 million in project revenue bonds to finance the the warehouse style building with 384 beds for adults.

Municipal bonds were stronger on Tuesday as California’s $1.7 billion tobacco bond deal received $15 billion in orders.

Three straight years of budget surpluses led S&P Global Ratings to upgrade the Nassau County town of 766,000.

The firm is expanding at its St. Louis headquarters, where it says it wants its sales professionals to be housed.

Municipal bonds were stronger on Tuesday as California’s big tobacco bond deal was priced for institutions.