Fixed income

Another strong week of inflows for municipal bond mutual funds indicated sustained heightened demand for munis. Funds that report their flows weekly recorded inflows of $706 million for the week ended Nov. 14.

Investors added $27.7 billion to long-term open-end funds in October, according to data from Morningstar. Taxable-bond funds led the way with inflows of $29.6 billion, while U.S.-stock funds saw outflows of $8.3 billion.

Municipals marked a day of rest following a torrid week of buying and record-setting yields as the bond markets closed for Veterans Day. Industry watchers said they were optimistic about investor demand and the overall state of the market.

Municipal bond mutual funds saw heavy inflows, rebounding with authority from their first week of outflows in more than six months.

Municipal bond mutual funds saw heavy inflows, rebounding with authority from their first week of outflows in more than six months.

Total estimated outflows from long-term mutual funds were $488 million for the week ended Wednesday, October 31, according to data from the Investment Company Institute.

The fate of the municipal tax exemption is a major concern as the election approaches.

After 28 straight weeks of inflows to muni bond funds, the market saw outflow for the week ended Oct. 31. Funds that report their flows weekly recorded outflows of $123 million for the week ended Oct. 31, Lipper FMI numbers show.

Bill Gross, who runs the world’s biggest mutual fund at Pacific Investment Management Co., said there is no evidence that investment is being spurred by the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing program.

Moody's Investors Service, Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings directors say Hurricane Sandy could create a downward impact on a few of the most severely impacted credits

Securities and Exchange Commission officials downplayed the potential for the so-called budget "sequestration" Thursday, but said dealers selling Build America Bonds should inform investors of any potentially risky call provisions.

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Municipal bond mutual funds saw inflows for the 27th consecutive week. Funds that report their flows weekly recorded inflows of $621 million for the week ended Oct. 17.

Natixis Global Asset Management, S.A. today acquired fixed-income asset manager McDonnell Investment Management, LLC.

In the past three years, bond funds have been raking in the assets, but experts say there "a fairly unusual disconnect between returns and flows."

Citigroup Inc., the third-biggest U.S. bank, reported a surprise profit of $468 million for the third quarter, helped by a $582 million tax benefit and bond- trading revenue that beat analysts’ estimates.

Market participants should be wary of threats to tax-exempt bonds, but the politically-charged atmosphere in Washington, D.C. raises doubts about the ability of Congress to pass comprehensive tax reform legislation, lobbyists and others said Friday.

The past week may have been an otherwise lackluster one for the tax-exempt market, but municipal bond mutual funds saw heavy demand in the form of inflows. Funds that report their flows weekly recorded inflows of $915 million for the week ended Oct. 10.

The tax-exempt market ended Tuesday weaker, continuing a sell off that began Friday after almost three weeks of gains.

Municipal bond mutual funds saw heightened demand from investors this past week. Funds that report their flows weekly recorded solid inflows of $592 million for the week ended Sept. 26, Lipper FMI numbers show.