Secondary bond market

Benchmark yields fell another 50 to 60 basis points, dropping them more than 1.5% in just four days. Meanwhile, a $450 million taxable new-issue came to market and was eight times oversubscribed.

With outflows occurring, Eric Kazatsky, muni strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence, maintains that muni appetite will vary directly with the credit hits that will be sustained in this environment. In some ways, he sees a return to pricing for the risk and the fundamentals. Taxable munis and ESG bonds will continue to gain in popularity. The future depends on the level of fiscal support in order to emerge from the crisis. John Hallacy hosts. Taped two weeks ago

Municipal benchmark yields were lowered by 60 to 80 basis points across the curve. Some trades pointed to nearly a 1% bump on short-term paper while state and local governments grapple with downgrades and revenue shortfalls.

Overall $274.231 billion of the coronavirus emergency supplemental appropriations package goes to state and local governments and communities.

The short end in particular was rebounding after Fed announced it would include variable rate demand obligations and short-term paper to its balance sheets.

Public finance advocates said the Senate bill has been broadened to authorize the Federal Reserve to purchase all types of bonds that are sold on the secondary market.

The Fed today added in variable rate demand notes to other short-term municipal debt to a list of assets eligible to be used as collateral by financial institutions, which contributed to some stability in the secondary market.

The municipal bond market is facing a new reality as yields rise, issuance slows and investors remaining skittish about the future.

A big New York State Empire Development Corp. private placement is likely to be followed by more until the municipal primary starts functioning again.

The municipal bond market again sold off as much as a half percentage point across the curve.