Little movement in munis, but UST volatility continues

BY SourceMedia | MUNICIPAL | 04:22 PM EDT By Christina Baker

Munis were little changed on Monday, as U.S. Treasuries cheapened in response to news of a weakening ceasefire with Iran, and equities ended higher.

For municipals, Monday's market was more of a "non-market," said Kim Olsan, senior fixed income portfolio manager at NewSquare Capital.

Muni yields cheapened by up to one basis point. UST yields rose up to six basis points, with the biggest losses around the two- to five-year maturities.

Throughout last week's volatility, munis showed almost no reaction to the volatility in USTs, Olsan said. This week, there's a fairly full calendar of new-issue bonds, with many deals "competing for attention," she said.

"There's probably some build-up to come. [With] Treasuries reacting to the delay and any peace negotiating that's happening, I think, if it holds into [Tuesday], it will probably bring some adjusted price activity," Olsan said. Munis may not see "as big a reaction as what's happening today in govies, but likely some response, either new issue spreads, or some bids wanteds easing on the yield side."

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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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