Primary bond market

Top-rated municipal bonds were weaker in quiet midday trading, traders said, as only a few smaller-sized bond sales hit the primary market.

The municipal bond market was expected to remain quiet on Thursday, with only a few smaller-sized bond sales set to be priced in the primary, and action in the secondary expected to remain muted.

Top-quality municipal bonds finished mixed on Wednesday, according to traders, who returned to work after the Fourth of July holiday to see a $130.4 million new issue calendar, the smallest of the year.

One week after National Public Finance Guarantee was downgraded two-notches by S&P Global Ratings, the bond insurer laid off 29 employees, slashing all of the new-business team.

Top-quality municipal bonds were weaker at mid-session, according to traders who returned to work after the Fourth of July holiday to see a $130.4 million new issue calendar, the smallest of the year.

Municipal bond traders are returning to work after the Fourth of July holiday only to see a $130.4 million new issue calendar, the smallest of the year.

Top-rated municipal bonds finished weaker on Monday in a quiet pre-holiday-shortened trading session.

The municipal bond market was quiet on Monday ahead an early close to trading and Tuesday’s full close for the Fourth of July holiday.

With the first half of the year officially in the books, we take a look at long-term municipal bond issuance.

Issuance is forecast to screech almost to a halt during the July 4th holiday shortened week.

Muni analysts pointed to June's uptick in volume as a sign that issuance may start to rebound.

Top shelf municipal bonds were unchanged at mid-session as traders prepared for next week’s almost non-existent new issue calendar. Ipreo estimates volume at $130.4 million, down from a revised total of $6.02 billion sold this week, according to updated data from Thomson Reuters.

Municipal bond traders are preparing for next week’s almost non-existent new issue calendar as they get ready for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.

The weekly average yield to maturity of The Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index, which is based on 40 long-term bond prices rose one basis point to 4.05% from the previous week's 4.04%.

Bonds were hit Thursday by a combination of global central bank comments, strong Eurozone economic data, and rising expectations of another interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve this year.

Municipal bonds were weaker as yields rose as much as seven basis points. In the primary, the N.Y. MTA postponed its $700 million green bond deal while Goldman priced the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power’s bonds.

Municipal bond traders are eyeing yields on the rise as the primary gets set to see the last of the big deals of the week hit the market on Thursday.

Top-rated municipal bonds finished weaker on Wednesday, sending yields as much as four basis points higher, according to traders, as two large deals from New York issuers priced.

Top-rated municipal bonds were weaker at mid-session, according to traders, as two large deals from New York issuers came to market.

Municipal bond traders are waiting to see the institutional pricing of the big DASNY deal as a host of other offerings hit the market on Wednesday.