Inflation

Investors pulled more from municipal bond mutual funds in the latest week, with Refinitiv Lipper reporting $2.446 billion of outflows, though that was down from $2.669 billion of outflows in the previous week.

Valuations look increasingly attractive relative to other fixed income asset classes, even as rising interest rates continue to weigh on the market, strategists say.

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. 

Inflation is "absolutely a problem," Yellen told a Senate panel, adding that the hot labor market illustrates the success of aid packages like the American Rescue Plan.

Investors pulled more from municipal bond mutual funds in the latest week, with Refinitiv Lipper reporting $2.669 billion of outflows, though down from $2.875 billion of outflows in the previous week.

Relative cheapness, wider spreads and underperformance in munis are providing better value, all set against a very solid and resilient credit background, analysts say, but supply is testing investor sentiment amid volatility.

“I would say that 50 basis points will be on the table for the May meeting,” Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday.

State and local governments are flush with cash and well-positioned to embrace the coming storm, experts say.

The significant cheapening of municipals in recent weeks continues to create headwinds for the overall tax-exempt market on a daily basis.

Investors pulled more from municipal bond mutual funds last week, with Refinitiv Lipper reporting $4.106 billion of outflows, bring the total to $22.3 billion of outflows year-to-date.