We continue to receive weighty news in the negative direction. Not much relief is in sight on the horizon. On the inflation front, we continue to run hot at the 8.3% mark. Breaking down the components also does not glean much positive news. It is hard to say exactly...

As Humphrey Bogart once said: “Well everybody in Casablanca has problems. Yours may work out.” The current market has us all feeling this way. We must find the way to the light. Among the myriad factors affecting markets are the Fed, the war in Ukraine, ultra-high...

Sharp Turns Ongoing in Municipals We have a lot of uncertainties in the market that we are dealing with at present. The war in Ukraine, equity volatility, federal funding anticipated declines, the Fed and many more. Concerning the Fed we do have more clarity as of...

Municipal Adaptations The municipal market is no stranger to absorbing and reacting to negative news and other related developments. We have had a sharp change in tone in the market. Flows to the mutual funds have now been negative for several reports. Rates have...

  I had to take a break at the end of last year due to hand surgery and a bout of omicron consecutively. The hand surgery was a bit easier to recover from. Thank goodness for my two vaccinations and the booster. I have no doubt that I would have more of a...

Extended Deadlines Will the real deadlines please come forward? The December 3 deadline has come and gone, and we now have an extension until February 18 on the budget. Getting past calendar year end is probably a clever idea but what happens come February? The nation...

We have had two recent developments in the macro sphere that will greatly influence municipals over time. The two major influences are the commencement of the Fed tapering and the passage of the infrastructure bill. Another development has been the spike in the...

On deck: a December to Remember Once again, we have a delay in the debt ceiling consideration. It is a good development to dial back on the intensity of the debate for the time being. We know that the real consideration will not fade during this time. I keep asking...