MQT News and Press, Blackrock MuniYield Quality Fund II Inc. From 06/14/19

By Cooper J Howard The municipal bond market is off to its hottest start in five years, led by the lower-rated segments of the muni market. It may be tempting to chase returns, but we suggest that investors instead take a cautious approach and focus on higher-rated issuers during the secon...

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The municipal bond market continues to heat up, and while issuance volume remains low, some sales have crossed the wires. This week we shine a spotlight on a proposed Los Angeles TRANs transaction, as well as Intel Corporation Project-related Revenue Bonds out of Chandler, Arizona. ...

By Sheila Amoroso, Senior Vice President, Director, Municipal Bond Department; Daniel Workman, CFA, Vice President, Portfolio Manager; Jennifer Johnston, Vice President, Research Analyst; and John W. Wiley, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager, Franklin Templeton Fixed Income Group Onc...

Over the past year or so, I have been arguing that investors need to watch the bond market because the bond market will be capturing and incorporating into prices the major forces impacting the world. Here we are at the end of May 2019 and the percent yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note ...

In this article, we compare municipal bond market returns to the S&P 500 historical market returns from 1991 to 2016. You may be wondering why compare two financial instruments that are as similar as apples and oranges. The reason is simple, one instrument presents less risk and volatili...

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By Cooper J Howard California's finances were a mess following the 2008 credit crisis, but that's no longer the case. The turnaround in the Golden State has resulted in higher credit quality for many issuers in the state and lower spreads for California muni bonds. As a result, Californi...

By Daryl Clements TRANSCRIPT: Well, I would say, I would claim that the financial industry, the municipal market has created a monster in terms of investors and how we invest in the municipal market. And what I mean by that is, investors have been lulled into buying bonds and in...

By Patricia Healy, CFA A positive tone continues for the credit quality of municipal bonds, and municipal performance has been strong as a result of low supply, high demand, and lower rates. (See John Mousseau's article ) After some states reported revenues tracking well below projections...