Markets

Municipals were flat on Tuesday morning, as market participants wait for the first new paper of the week.

The consumer confidence index increased to 125.9 in October from a revised 120.6 last month, The Conference Board reported Tuesday.

The Chicago Business Barometer rose to 66.2 in October from 65.2 in September.

Home prices rose 0.5% on an annual basis in August, not seasonally adjusted.

The seasonally adjusted Milwaukee Report on Business increased to 63.61 in October from 60.24 in September.

The Employment Cost Index rose in the third quarter to see an expected 0.7% increase, up from the 0.5% gain in second quarter, data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Tuesday showed.

The Midwest Economy Index declined to negative 0.09 in September from positive 0.08 in August.

Municipals were firmer on Monday, as market participants awaited the week's first issues from Montgomery County, Md., and Phoenix.

The end of the probe was disclosed in offering documents for a $67 million refunding deal.

Municipal bonds were little changed in midday activity as the market gets ready to see nearly $7 billion of new paper.