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Tag Archives: bond

Feb 13, 2017

Rieger Report: The Uncorrelated

Why worry?  New highs for the U.S. stock market indices will keep coming, right?  Just in case, this might be a good time to examine asset classes that are not correlated to the equity market or the “uncorrelated”. Corporate bonds of the issuers in the S&P 500 are tracked in the S&P 500 Bond Index.  As a group…

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Jan 1, 2017

Rieger Report: Municipal bonds in 2017?

A look back may be a telling way to view municipal bonds in 2017. The modest total return of the S&P Municipal Bond Index (0.77%) in 2016 masked an atypical year of volatility for the normally staid market place.  During the year, municipal bonds enjoyed being one of the ‘risk off’ asset classes and as low…

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Dec 30, 2016

Rieger Report: Could the long end be range bound?

The long end of the yield curve for U.S. corporate and municipal bonds could be held range bound over the next several months as there are various forces at play. Drivers for yields to rise: Inflation expectations: actual and anticipated inflation can impact bond holders and hits the yields of long term bonds the hardest. Infrastructure programs:…

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Dec 1, 2016

The Turning Point

Thirty-five years ago on September 30, 1981 the 10 Year treasury yield peaked at 15.85%.  With a few bumps it has slid downward ever since – until now. The events of the last few weeks moved interest rates higher and added about 25 bp to the ten year treasury.  Even allowing for some near-term volatility…

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Oct 7, 2016

Rieger Report: Retail Bond Transaction Costs Show Improvement

Tracking the mark up on retail size bond transactions can be a tricky effort particularly as mark ups have not be disclosed in the past.  By comparing trades of bonds of similar characteristics we are able to isolate and calculate estimated transaction costs published in our study “Unveiling the Hidden Costs of Retail Buying & Selling”. The…

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Oct 5, 2016

Rieger Report: “Belly of the Curve” Good for Muni & Corporate Bonds

Through October 3rd, the S&P Municipal Bond Index has returned 4.23% year-to-date and the S&P 500 Bond Index has returned 8.97%.  The 7 – 10 year maturity range has outpaced the overall benchmarks in both cases. The average yield of bonds in the S&P 500 7-10 Year Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index has fallen by 94bps…

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Oct 4, 2016

Rieger Report: High Yield Domination

High yield bonds have been marching along and putting up returns that are dominating the investment grade bond markets. U.S. junk bonds continue to have no stink to them as demand for yield far outweighs the supply and seemingly the credit risks associated with these bonds.   The bonds of larger entities tracked in the S&P 500…

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Oct 3, 2016

Rieger Report: Insured Munis Begin to Show Value

The S&P Municipal Bond Index has recorded a 4.21% year-to-date total return for the first three quarters of 2016 lagging the taxable corporate bond market returns of nearly 9% as tracked by the S&P 500 Bond Index.  Some segments of the municipal bond market are contributing more than others: Local general obligation bonds have out performed…

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Oct 2, 2016

Rieger Report: Sector Driven Corporate Bond Returns

Sector selection seems to be a major component of bond market returns in 2016.  On a total return basis the bonds of companies in the S&P 500 Index have been outperforming the stocks of those companies in 2016. A closer look reveals that as the yield starved market pushed yields down the higher yielding sectors…

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Sep 27, 2016

Rieger Report: Mismatch – State Pension Short Falls & Muni Bond Market Returns

S&P Global Ratings released a report on September 12th 2016 U.S. State Pensions: Weak Market Returns Will Contribute to Rise in Expense.  Importantly, the report identified the five worst and best funded state pensions.  You might think that an underfunded pension liability would mean the market would avoiding the municipal bonds issued by or within those…

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