Munis are quiet, USTs slightly cheaper on May Day

BY SourceMedia | MUNICIPAL | 04:13 PM EDT By Christina Baker

Munis were quiet on Friday, as U.S. Treasuries were a touch weaker and equities ended mixed.

Muni yields were mostly steady, with some maturities increasing by up to two basis points. UST yields rose up to two basis points.

Municipals held steady or rallied for all but two sessions in April, according to NewSquare Capital's Kim Olsan.

"After the end of Q1 brought mostly flat returns across major sectors, last month's run-down in yield defied hefty supply (preliminary figures point to more than $52 billion) and volatile global rate activity, leading to gains in nearly every category," Olsan wrote. "May brings a higher total redemption figure compared with April. However, broader headwinds may put the brakes on any meaningful rally."

<img src="https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/28787119/thumbnail" width="100%" alt="table visualization" /> <img src="https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/28787117/thumbnail" width="100%" alt="table visualization" />

New-issue calendar
Issuance for the week of May 4 is an estimated $12.207 billion, with $9.972 billion of negotiated deals on tap and $2.235 billion of competitives.

Chicago leads the negotiated calendar with $814.14 million of water revenue bonds.

The competitive calendar is led by Washington state with $786.245 million of GOs in three series.

In general the bond market is volatile, and fixed income securities carry interest rate risk. (As interest rates rise, bond prices usually fall, and vice versa. This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Unlike individual bonds, most bond funds do not have a maturity date, so avoiding losses caused by price volatility by holding them until maturity is not possible.

Lower-quality debt securities generally offer higher yields, but also involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Contact Fidelity for a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus containing this information. Read it carefully.

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