Washington

Over the past five years, January has seen a relatively stable market tone, said Jeff Timlin, managing partner and head of municipal bond investing at Sage Advisory.

"Markets are reading this as a strategic pause, not a policy shift," said Gina Bolvin, president of Bolvin Wealth Management Group.

Democrats said they've paused negotiations until the administration relaxes its anti-clean energy stance.

Public finance advocates are trying to interpret mixed signals about plans to pass a major reconciliation bill that could put the threat to the tax-exempt status of munis back on the table.

MSRB CEO Mark Kim described GFOA's letter suggesting changes the MSRB could make as "very constructive, very valuable."

Bond advocates are watching the appropriations process while the possibilities of a Farm Bill and surface transportation reauthorization may offer openings for restoring advance refunding and raising the BQ cap.

Analysts don't expect a rate cut at this meeting, but offer thoughts on the year ahead and the to-be-named Fed chair.

Munis were steady Monday following the large cuts the asset class saw last week, specifically on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

"We are on the cusp of major changes in how the municipal securities market operates," Dave Sanchez, director of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of Municipal Securities, said last week.

It could signal the issuer did not get the best price during a negotiated deal, officials said.