Secondary bond market

Jim Robinson, portfolio manager of the Robinson Tax Advantaged Income Fund at Liberty Street Advisors, talks about the changing ways investors should view stocks and bonds. Within the municipal bond market, closed-end municipal bond funds may represent a particularly attractive opportunity. Robinson notes that at a time when the cost of leverage is falling, discounts on closed-end funds are high. Lynne Funk hosts. (18 minutes)

The dearth of supply will likely hold down rates and keep certain investors out of the muni market. High-yield municipal bonds, still the most in-demand sector, tightened again.

Refinitiv Lipper reported $1.889 billion of inflows, with $641 million in high-yield. Negotiated deals repriced to lower yields while competitive loan yields were compelling from New Jersey and Los Angeles USD.

High-grade scales were little changed as ICI reports the sixth week in a row of inflows to the tune of $2.29 billion into municipal bond mutual funds.

Municipal triple-A benchmarks held steady as the focus was on the primary in which large new issues repriced to lower yields while secondary trading was light.

The municipal market was steady Monday as the investors gear up for three separate billion-dollar deals heading to market from California, New York, and Connecticut issuers.

Sub-1% 10-year municipals and low ratios may test investor appetite for the asset class but it is hard to ignore the strong fundamentals and substantial fund flows in the backdrop.

Four out of the six economic indicators released on Thursday surpassed expectations, with consumers tapping their savings to quench pent-up demand. U.S. Treasuries made gains but municipals stood on their own in an impressive two-day rally with insatiable demand.

The economy grew faster from late February through early April while consumer spending increased, with a possible rise in inflation in the near term, according to the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book released on Wednesday.

One-year municipal debt has fallen to record lows with benchmark yield curves at 0.05% and the 10-year muni has fallen below 1% while 30-year muni benchmark yields at or less than 10-year UST.