Markets

The value of retail sales rose 0.4% in December, as expected by analysts, and were up 0.4% excluding motor vehicle sales.

The consumer price index rose by 0.1% in December, as expected, while core CPI posted a stronger-than-expected 0.3% rise.

In the week ended Jan. 11, the weekly average yield to maturity of the Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index rose to 3.84% from 3.81% the previous week. The BB40 Index is based on the price of 40 long-term bonds.

Municipal bond buyers gobbled up taxable supply from Pennsylvania and Illinois Thursday as the recent rise in yields slowed.

The public finance banking team is led by veteran banker Jack Holland.

Bob Spangler and Jim Tricolli will assume responsibilities as RBC's co-heads of municipal finance as Hamel steps away from the top-five underwriter.

The federal government ran a $23.2 billion deficit in December, the Treasury Department reported Thursday.

Municipal bond buyers saw some taxable supply hit the screens on Thursday as the recent yield rise slowed and traders' attention shifted to next week’s holiday-shortened week.

S&P Global Ratings said it lowered its long-term rating on Missouri Western State University's (MWSU) series 2008, 2010B, and 2012 to BBB-plus from A-minus.

Dawn Mangerson, senior portfolio manager at McDonnell Investment Management talks about the ramifications of the new tax legislation and articulates her concerns for municipals in 2018. Aaron Weitzman and Chip Barnett co-host.