New York State Dormitory Authority

"The muni AAA [high grade] curve has been relatively steady thus far in March, but lags relative to the broader fixed income market after sizable muni outperformance in February," said J.P. Morgan strategists. 

High-yield and taxable munis continue to outperform, supply grows but concentrates in larger deals led by $3 billion of state personal income tax revenue bonds from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York next week.

There hasn't been a huge return of capital in the muni market so far this year, with fund flows being rather anemic, said Chad Farrington, co-head of municipal bond strategy at DWS Group.

While supply this week is "softer," uncertainty and volatility may prevail once more due to "yields still not exciting longer-term investors," said Matt Fabian, a partner at Municipal Market Analytics.

Munis have had a slow start "down roughly 0.25% for the first week of September bringing year-to-date returns to 1.34%," said Jason Wong, vice president of municipals at AmeriVet Securities.

"Weaker performance is in part driven by higher permanent labor costs," Moody's said. "These elements highlight rising human capital and financial strategy risks under Moody's ESG classification and are key drivers of this rating action."

J.P. Morgan held a one-day retail order for $1.65 billion of revenue bonds from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, while Minnesota sold $1.02 billion of GOs in the competitive market in five deals.

For the coming week, investors will be greeted with a larger new-issue calendar led by large New York and Texas ISD issuers, along with gilt-edged Minnesota selling competitively.

The CPI numbers coming in pretty much as expected "was a relief" to the markets, with the bond market rallying after the release, said Luke Bartholomew, senior economist at abrdn.

"The large taxable refunding or combined transactions were accomplished earlier in the year when rates were relatively low," says John Hallacy.

The firm’s project finance & public finance practice comprises more than 50 attorneys and professional colleagues and is looking to add.

Siebert's Suzanne Shank and Bill Thompson have joined with NBA veteran player Chris Webber in a new program launched by New York State to fund the growth of the cannabis industry that eliminates barriers for equitable participation.

Outflows continue with the Investment Company Institute reporting $6.167 billion pulled from muni bond mutual funds in the week ending May 4, up from $5.371 billion of outflows in the previous week. 

New York Dormitory Authority school bonds and Northwell Health priced and upsized, while Wisconsin and Oregon offered general obligation bonds. Analysts say municipal curves are oversold, creating a buying opportunity.

Despite outsized volatility and liquidity challenges ahead, the possibility of relief for munis is not too far off, analysts say, but USTs lead the way for exempts.

Despite the pandemic, operating revenues increased 7.6% from 2019 to 2020 and 8.25% from 2020 to 2021.

Munis again outperformed U.S. Treasuries. Participants note that municipal to Treasury ratios and nominal yield levels are “extremely attractive,” which is generating some renewed interest among the retail crowd.

Bond investors are understandably cautious in response to recent market volatility and ahead of what is expected to be a Fed rate hike Wednesday, participants say.

The market is being driven by the prospect of higher long-term inflation and the potential that the Federal Reserve may have to raise rates further than expected.

DASNY leads the calendar with $2.3 billion of exempt personal income tax bonds and $662.32 million of taxables. Potential volume is slated to be $5.11 billion, with $4.392 billion of negotiated deals and $718.1 million of competitive loans.