Public finance

Faced with one of the worst quarters for total return in the last five years, mutual fund managers said yield-curve positioning, proper credit selection, and risk aversion in the first quarter of 2008 were key to achieving top rankings - even as the universe of tax-exempt mutual funds totaling $131.7 billion was plagued by a negative 1.89% cumulative results for the three-month period ending Mar. 31, according to new data from Lipper Inc.

CALIFORNIACalifornia Statewide Communities Development AuthorityMar 28, 2008 . . . . . . $15,400,000

CONNECTICUTSimsbury (Town)Apr 8, 2008 . . . . . . $4,000,000

ARIZONASouthside Community Facilities District No. 1 (Prescott Valley)Apr 4, 2008 . . . . . . $3,025,000

ILLINOISLake County Forest Preserve DistrictApr 7, 2008 . . . . . . $35,000,000

CALIFORNIACalifornia Municipal Finance AuthorityApr 3, 2008 . . . . . . $7,910,000

KANSASDe Soto (City)Apr 3, 2008 . . . . . . $1,080,000

Weekly reporting municipal bond mutual funds had a net inflow of $333 million during the period ending April 2, AMG Data Services reported.

A billion-dollar deal in the Far West region and a bevy of new deals in the Northeast will lead this week's primary market calendar, which includes $6.68 billion of new volume compared with a revised $8.01 billion last week.

ARKANSASCedarville Waterworks Facilities BoardMar 25, 2008 . . . . . . $3,950,000

ARIZONATempe Union High School District No. 213Apr 2, 2008 . . . . . . $35,765,000

All The Bond Buyer's weekly yield indexes declined this week, as gains outweighed losses.

Tax-free money market funds achieved record asset growth for the week ending March 31, gaining $3.78 billion, up significantly from last week's $1.26 billion, according to the Money Fund Report, a service of iMoneynet.com.

ALABAMAAutauga County Industrial Development AuthorityMar 19, 2008 . . . . . . $2,205,000

IOWAOskaloosa (City)Apr 2, 2008 . . . . . . $3,000,000

CALIFORNIAAtwater Public Financing AuthorityApr 1, 2008 . . . . . . $20,050,000

ALABAMAMoody Governmental Utility Services CorporationMar 20, 2008 . . . . . . $7,665,000

In an effort to give retail investors more accessibility, selectivity, and diversity when it comes to buying and trading fixed-income securities, Fidelity Investments has not only enhanced its online trading platform, but also significantly expanded its inventory of bonds through a new joint venture with TheMuniCenter LLC.

ALABAMADaleville (City)Mar 18, 2008 . . . . . . $4,140,000

MINNESOTADelano Independent School District No. 879Mar 31, 2008 . . . . . . $4,865,000