Primary bond market

Despite losses, munis are "being set up nicely" as the summer season approaches, said Jeff Lipton, a research analyst and market strategist.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority plans to refund about $400 million and sell $429 million of new money for its capital construction program.

Muni yields rose up to 13 basis points Wednesday, depending on the curve, coming on the tailwind of a market correction, said Brad Libby, a fixed-income portfolio manager and credit analyst at Hartford Funds.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe take the top spot with a 10.29% market share.

Overall education issuance, including higher ed, K-12 and student loan debt, in 2023 totaled $94.9619 billion, or 3.6% more than 2022's totals.

The California Community Choice Financing Authority was the leader in the public power sector, issuing nearly $5 billion or 28% market share in 2023. It was also one of the top 10 overall issuers of 2023.

Munis sold off last week "as the anticipated market correction may have finally started ahead of the summer reinvestment period," said Jason Wong, vice president of municipals at AmeriVet Securities.

A pair of muni market experts propose cities and towns borrow through state-based, credit-enhanced bond banks to make the market more efficient.

"For each May dating to 2021, the average 30-year MMD was 2.74% — or 122 basis points below the current yield," FHN Financial's Kim Olsan said. "The recent adjustment offers better investor value."

Municipal bond mutual funds saw the second week of outflows as investors pulled $217.6 million from the funds after $546.2 million of outflows the week prior, according to LSEG Lipper. High-yield saw inflows again.

The ongoing influx of new-issue supply has pushed muni-UST ratios to at or near year-to-date highs, J.P. Morgan strategists said.

More than two dozen issuers have announced plans to refund their BABs this year, despite objections from investors.

Several weeks of elevated supply should theoretically be "weighing more on performance, but the market is now just ahead of its largest reinvestment season, which so far in 2024 has become even more pronounced, with an additional $19.5 billion scheduled for call/redemption between [June 1 and August 30]," said Matt Fabian, a partner at Municipal Market Analytics.

The debt was approved for Greensboro and Raleigh.

"While we acknowledge that the market tone is weaker [Monday], we are generally constructive regarding valuations and expect this week's supply to be absorbed fairly well after last week's giveback of the richening witnessed over prior weeks," said Vikram Rai, head of municipal markets strategy at Wells Fargo.

Recipients included Marjorie Henning, retired deputy comptroller for public finance for the New York City Comptroller's office; Albert Simons, retired partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe; and New York City Budget Director Jacques Jiha. 

"The industry is built on relationships, and it's powered by technology," said Josh Rosenblum, head of algorithmic trading at Brownstone.

There are nearly 30 new-issues over $100 million on tap across the credit spectrum, led by the week's largest negotiated deal from Harris County, Texas, with $950 million of toll road first lien revenue and refunding bonds. The competitive calendar ticks up with several high-grade names.

"In terms of credit quality, high-yield funds proved resilient" while investment-grade funds saw outflows of $673 million, noted J.P. Morgan's Peter DeGroot in a market note.

The CPI print keeps the possibility of the Fed cutting rates at least once this year, potentially at least two rate cuts if the data continues to point to a trend of inflation falling further, said Jeff Lipton, a research analyst and market strategist.