Buy side

A new report from Merritt Research Services looks at potential post-pandemic problems for big cities that rely on taxes from commercial real estate.

The UST selloff and rate fears spooked investors in January, but experts predict more opportunity and a stronger tone for munis in the remainder of the first quarter.

While opportunities exist, investors should still monitor economic and market developments as they search for value in the final weeks of the year, experts said.

The city’s timing is good as long as market demand for municipals, especially higher yielding paper, stays on track, municipal bond investors say.

Peter Delahunt, who spent 26 years with Raymond James, has been hired by StoneX to help build out its muni business.

The fund focuses on investment-grade state and local government debt funding sustainable development, including affordable housing, green spaces and hospitals.

Boston-based Breckinridge will partner with Harrington Cooper to specialize in investment grade fixed-income and ESG integration for investors in the UK, Ireland, Continental Europe and Japan.

An influx of investment into high-yield munis has created challenges for fund managers forced to compete against each other to get in on new bond offerings.

The ICE risQ social impact scores will let municipal bond investors compare which communities will be socially impacted the most by their investments.

A federal judge denied Nuveen's motion to dismiss Preston Hollow's antitrust lawsuit concluding a "plausible" claim exists to proceed. PHC faces a tougher legal road ahead in proving its rival orchestrated a damaging boycott.

High-yield municipal bond returns are more than 6% so far in the year as Nuveen expands its reach in the sector with a new "interval" high-yield fund.

Federal coronavirus relief helps the city deal with immediate budget problems, but pensions loom large over the city's post-pandemic fiscal landscape.

New evidence in PHC's defamation case against Nuveen has surfaced that involves Citi while a separate judge is considering whether to allow an antitrust charge to proceed

Chicago's investors will be on the hunt for answers to how the city intends to use federal dollars, including whether it's going to scrap scoop-and-toss plans and meet rising pension contributions.

A trio of municipal bond analysts say now is the time for investors to take advantage of the strength and resilience of the asset class.

Joe Geraci, who spent 24 years at Citi, most recently as co-head of the Global Spread Products division, will join investment advisor Old Orchard Capital.

As issuance rose in 2020, so did municipal bond insurance usage, with $34.167 billion wrapped, or 7.5% insured total issuance from almost 5.7% in 2019.

Bel Air Investment Advisors is Hightower's 14th and largest acquisition in a year, with $8 billion of assets under management including $2.8 billion of municipals.

Jennifer Johnston will replace Tom Walsh, who is retiring on Dec. 1.

Eaton Vance operates dozens of municipal bond mutual funds under the Eaton Vance, Parametric and Calvert brands.