Bonds

Municipals saw small losses ahead of a larger new-issue calendar, while U.S. Treasuries were stronger up front and weaker out long after the jobs report came in lower than expected, as data continued to send the markets mixed signals on the economy’s health. Triple-A benchmarks rose up to three basis points, while USTs saw yields
Despite wide expectations for declining revenues, big-ticket tax cuts were on the agenda in state legislatures across the Northeast during the most recent budget negotiation periods. With a slowdown in economic activity expected going into fiscal 2024 after a strong post-COVID rebound, almost every state in the region passed or is still negotiating tax cuts
Municipals cheapened across the yield curve Thursday, but outperformed U.S. Treasuries which sold off after better-than-anticipated payrolls numbers, leading the two- and 10-year to the highest levels since March. Equities ended down. Municipals could not ignore the large losses in USTs, though the July reinvestment dollars and lack of new-issue supply worked to stave off
Municipals were little changed ahead of the Fourth of July, while U.S. Treasuries were weaker and equities ended up. Triple-A yields were steady, while UST yields rose three to eight basis points. Municipal to UST ratios fell as a result. The two-year muni-to-Treasury ratio Monday was at 59%, the three-year at 61%, the five-year at
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory, “is at risk of a severe fiscal crisis,” according to a U.S. Government Accounting Office report. The CNMI had $114 million of debt outstanding as of September 2020, much of it bond debt, according to its most recent audited statement. The government at that time
The Puerto Rico Oversight Board Friday approved the commonwealth’s fiscal 2024 budget that increases government spending and was already approved by the governor and local legislature. The budget consensus marks a departure from the long history of disagreements between the territory’s elected government and the board created by the federal government to restructure Puerto Rico’s
Municipals were steady to end the month and first half of the year ahead of a paltry new-issue calendar which will see next week’s volume drop to the lowest level of 2023. U.S. Treasuries were firmer out long and equities rallied. Treasuries saw yields fall by as much as seven basis points on the long
June municipal bond issuance dropped 9% from 2022 as uncertainty over Federal Reserve policy and market volatility continued, but the total was the highest month of the year. June’s total volume was $34.436 billion in 744 issues, down from $37.775 billion in 984 issues a year earlier, according to Refinitiv data, and lower than the
Not-for-profit hospital balance sheets are on the mend from last year’s challenges that inflicted deep damage on balance sheets, but pressures persist and the recovery is slow going, according to reports published this week. Hospital finances showed signs of stabilizing in May with some improvement in operating margins, declining expenses and notable increases in outpatient visits,
Munis were weaker Thursday, unable to ignore larger losses in U.S. Treasuries, after better-than-expected economic data pointed to a strong U.S. economy. Equities ended mixed. Economic data released Thursday showed the U.S. economy is strong, said Edward Moya, senior market analyst at The Americas OANDA. The initial reaction saw UST yields surge, “while stocks focused