Primary bond market

As equities traded lower, municipal bonds rallied along with Treasuries on Thursday.

Analysts say lessons from the events of 2018 can forecast what lies ahead in 2019.

Municipal bonds were mostly stronger along with Treasuries amid stock market gyrations.

Wells Fargo promoted Charles Peck to head of public finance, almost a month after firing Stratford Shields from the post.

Municipal issuance fell by 24% to $338 billion for 2018 as changes in U.S. tax law crushed the market.

Municipal bonds were stronger as markets closed early ahead of the New Year’s holiday.

The municipal market got stronger once again, beefing up with the end of the year right around the corner.

As the muni market continues to end the year on a strong note, market participants were wondering about what to watch out for in 2019.

In the week ended Dec. 27, the weekly average yield to maturity of the Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index, which is based on 40 long-term bond prices, fell to 4.09% from 4.13% last week.

The municipal market extended its December rally in light secondary trading. No new deals came to market.

The municipal market strengthened further on Thursday, with light action in the secondary.

Studies on the returns for active vs. passive securities do not definitively declare a winner. However, J.R. Rieger of the Rieger Report explains that a higher proportion of municipal active managers best their benchmarks. John Hallacy is host.

Municipal bonds outperformed other asset classes in 2018 and it looks like the trend will continue into the new year, a trader said.

Municipal bond activity is light as the market is mostly in vacation mode with no major bond sales scheduled until 2019. Nervous investors continued to flock to the safety of bonds amid political developments in Washington and worries of decelerating global growth.

Muni regulators are expected to slow the pace of new rulemaking and focus on enforcement in 2019, with an emphasis on continuing disclosure.

While stocks are suffering still and there is a chance of a government shutdown, municipals strengthen yet again to close out the second to last week of the year.

With stocks and equities continuing their sell-off, munis continue to flex their muscles — even with a budget showdown in Washington taking place.

The weekly average yield to maturity of The Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index, which is based on 40 long-term bond prices, was unchanged from 4.13% the week before.

The municipal market held firm on Thursday, as new issuance for the year ground to a near halt amid demand for safe investments.

Fresh off another 25 basis point increase in the fed funds rate, the muni market firmed again, with new issuance pretty much curtailed until the New Year.