Markets

The New York State Thruway Authority's $848 million refunding features a voluntary tender process.

The muni bond market stands at an "inflection point," said Nuveen strategists in a 2026 market outlook.

"A stagnant yield curve is resulting from supply having wound down and munis drawing steadiness from a likewise calm UST market," said Kim Olsan, senior fixed income portfolio manager at NewSquare Capital.

Moody's Ratings upgraded the Chicago Transit Authority to Aa3 from A1 Friday, and upgraded the Chicago-area Regional Transportation Authority to Aa2 from Aa3.

It was a "confusing, volatile year, and the states face growing threats in 2026 and thereafter," said Matt Fabian, president of Municipal Market Analytics.

State tax policy is playing a role in the location of data centers which have turned into a lightning rod attracting debt financing, local opposition, and federal involvement.

Unless there is a massive selloff in the next two weeks, there will not be a major spike in market participants using tax-loss harvesting through year-end, said Ben Barber, director of municipal bonds at Franklin Templeton.

Following the September/October rally, munis have been relatively steady in November and December, with direction and magnitude of rate change in the UST market driving underperformance or outperformance, said J.P. Morgan strategists led by Peter DeGroot.

The dramatic downgrade projects a default by January 2027 on bonds issued to finance the Miami-to-Orlando passenger train service.

Supply for the final two weeks of the year will be virtually nonexistent, with only one deal, $24.46 million of taxable multi-family/project bonds from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, on the calendar for next week.