Bond markets have been very volatile.  The Fixed Income Strategy area of Janney Montgomery Scott provides regular commentary and reports on issues impacting investors, including changes in the credit ratings of bond insurers, failures of many auctions for Auction Rate Securities and the impact of volatility on the valuations of municipal bonds. 

Auction Rate Securities

The market for auction rate securities has deteriorated in recent weeks, as buyers, concerned about liquidity problems, have largely avoided the sector. As a result, many auctions have failed and holders are finding it challenging to sell their single-issuer ARS and closed end fund ARPS via the auction process. Janney’s Fixed Income Department is actively following the situation and has published several updates in recent weeks:

Auction Rate Securities Update - May 22, 2008

Auction Rate Securities Update - April 23, 2008

Auction Rate Securities Update - April 2, 2008

Auction Rate Securities Update - March 28, 2008

Auction Rate Securities Update - March 14, 2008

Auction Rate Securities Update - February 29, 2008

Auction Rate Securities Update - February 21, 2008

Auction Rate Securities Update - February 6, 2008

Auction Rate Securities Update - December 10, 2007

Bond Insurers

Quarterly losses at many of the monoline bond insurers triggered ratings agencies Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch to review the credit quality at the firms that insure around 50% of all municipal bonds outstanding. Since the initial reviews began in October, a number of insurers have been downgraded as the result of their exposures to the subprime mortgage and structured finance markets. As a major participant in the municipal bond and public finance markets, Janney has kept abreast of the trends in the bond insurance industry and is issuing client updates as conditions change:

Bond Insurer Update - June 24, 2008

Bond Insurer Update - May 20, 2008

Bond Insurer Update - January 25, 2008

Fixed Income Evaluations

Bond market volatility has had an impact of bond valuations on client statements as well as online access accounts. Janney want its clients to understand how fixed income issues are valued, and why the prices are only approximations of actual market value.

Fixed Income Evaluation