Munis to Perform Inline With Treasuries: Chris Brigati

The video discusses the unprecedented losses in global bond markets and the impact of central bank policies, particularly the Federal Reserve's tightening measures. Chris Brigati from Valley National Bank provides insights into how municipal bonds have reacted to market volatility and interest rate changes. The discussion covers the potential for curve inversions to signal a recession and the effects of the infrastructure bill and stimulus money on municipal credit quality. Strategies for managing bond duration and the implications of credit spreads are also explored.

What has been the reaction of municipal bonds to the recent volatility in the treasury market?

• They have outperformed the treasury market.

• They have reacted poorly in terms of performance.

• They have remained stable with no significant changes.

• They have shown unprecedented growth.

How are municipal bonds expected to perform in a rate hiking cycle?

• They will underperform compared to Treasurys.

• They will perform in line with Treasurys.

• They will not be affected by rate hikes.

• They will outperform Treasurys significantly.

What is a suggested strategy for managing bond duration during market volatility?

• Avoid any changes to the current bond portfolio.

• Invest only in short-term bonds.

• Adopt a barbell strategy with a mix of long and short durations.

• Focus solely on long-term bonds.

What impact has the infrastructure bill had on municipal credit quality?

• It has decreased the credit quality of municipalities.

• It has led to a significant increase in municipal debt.

• It has had no impact on credit quality.

• It has provided a windfall, improving credit quality.

How are municipalities expected to use the stimulus money by 2026?

• They are required to return any unspent funds.

• They can only use it for infrastructure development.

• They must spend it all on COVID-related projects.

• They have flexibility to spend on both COVID and non-COVID projects.