Buy side

Consolidation and technology are among the changes navigated by the Baggotts of Executive Search Placements.

In the week ended Aug. 31, the weekly average yield to maturity of the Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index was two basis points lower to 3.99% from 4.01% from the previous week.

Maria Doulis of the Citizens Budget Commission and Howard Cure of Evercore Wealth Management discuss New York City's finances, transportation issues and its relationship with NY State. Hosted by Paul Burton.

The weekly average yield to maturity of The Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index, which is based on 40 long-term bond prices, was unchanged at 4.01% for the third consecutive week.

Lord Abbett’s Dan Solender and Eric Friedland join the Bond Buyer’s John Hallacy to discuss the market tone, rates, sectors, and credit quality. The colleagues give a frank assessment of the landscape, including federal policy, state financial trends, relative strengths of revenue bonds and the shape of the yield curve and the outlook for rates.

The state of Texas is riding into the market this week with the biggest short-term deal of the year.

The municipal market got off to a fast start in terms of issuance this year, picking up in January right where it left off from 2016’s record-setting totals. However, the pace of issuance has since slowed, leaving 2017 first-half volume lagging last year's levels.

Short-term note issuance rose less than 5% in the first half of 2017 as municipalities relies less on cash flow needs.

Part of the reason for munis' gains may be the reduction in issuance as governments wait for a federal infrastructure plan.

In the week ended Aug. 17, the weekly average yield to maturity of the Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index was steady at 4.01% from the previous week. The BB40 Index is based on the price of 40 long-term bonds.