New York State Dormitory Authority

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.

Municipal bond issuance in the region was down 11.7% year-over-year in 2021, as new money, refunding, taxable and tax-exempt volume all slipped.

The Volcker Alliance looks at the state’s outstanding municipal bonds and $83 billion in other obligations and suggests improved transparency and oversight.