Stay Ahead with Our Latest Muni Market Insights

Stay Ahead with Our Latest Muni Market Insights

MUNICIPAL MARKET WEEKLY UPDATE · JANUARY 6, 2026

And We Are Back!

  • Munis outperform to ring in the new year
  • Recapping 2025 to set table for 2026
  • Active momentum quite apparent in product creation
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MUNI 360 PODCAST · DECEMBER 19, 2025

2026 New Issue Supply Forecast

Join Andrew D’Avino this week as he offers his thoughts on the volatility we’re seeing in the muni market, an update on issuance and an update on fundamentals.

Muni 360 Podcast QR Code

   

LATEST EPISODES

DECEMBER 12, 2025

A Solid Second Half Sets the Tone

Join Matt Hage this week as he breaks down muni market performance in 2025 and shares key outlook themes heading into 2026.

   

DECEMBER 5, 2025

New Issuance Is Being Absorbed Well

Join Vineeth Krishnakumar this week as he offers his thoughts on the volatility we’re seeing in the muni market, an update on issuance and an update on fundamentals.

   

NOVEMBER 21, 2025

Post-Shutdown, What’s Next for Munis?

Join Ian France this week as he offers his thoughts on the volatility we’re seeing in the muni market, an update on issuance and an update on fundamentals.

   

   

Top 5 Municipal Market Insights from MacKay Municipal Managers

For more than 15 years, MacKay Municipal Managers’ Top 5 Muni Insights has provided a clear and concise outlook on the municipal bond market, highlighting key opportunities, emerging trends, and the essential factors investors should watch in the year ahead.

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Explore Insights from MacKay Municipal Managers

Explore Insights from MacKay Municipal Managers

Weekly Update • January 6, 2026 And We Are Back! Municipals are well poised to capitalize on the positive momentum that was present down the final stretch of 2025.
Weekly Update • December 16, 2025 Twas the Week Before Christmas MacKay Municipal Managers reviews the current muni market landscape and looks back at their 2025 outlook.
Muni 360 Monthly Report • December 11, 2025 Muni 360 Report Key strategic themes, current market and performance data, expert commentary on market drivers, and in-depth regional and state-level fiscal and credit insights.
Weekly Update • December 9, 2025 Tis The Season to Be Swapping! Munis remain stable despite decreased Treasury yields, and opportunities arise with tax loss harvesting as NAVs are pushed below cost basis.
Weekly Update • December 2, 2025 Munis Look to be December Stocking Stuffers Despite tighter credit spreads, munis still outperformed amid government reopening.
Weekly Update • November 18, 2025 Despite Tighter Spreads, Credit Gems Exist Municipal bonds outperformed Treasuries amid strong technicals and reinvestment demand, with lower-rated munis offering attractive yields and low default risk.
Weekly Update • November 11, 2025 Coupon Defensiveness in Vogue Once Again Munis held firm as short Treasuries rallied, highlighting value on the front end and the importance of higher-coupon bonds.
The Hidden Cost of Cheap Beta: Why Active Munis Win
More from MMM • November 6, 2025 The Hidden Cost of Cheap Beta: Why Active Munis Win MMIN and MMIT capture overlooked muni sectors, delivering broader exposure and stronger results than passive ETFs.
Weekly Update • November 4, 2025 Think You Have Enough Munis... Think Again Municipals capped a historic October with strong relative performance, reinforcing their role as a core diversifier in underallocated fixed income portfolios as investors seek stability and value heading into year-end.
What Passive Munis Leave on the Table
More from MMM • November 4, 2025 What Passive Munis Leave on the Table MTBIX and MTFGX deliver fuller market access and performance where passive funds fall short.
More from MMM • September 30, 2025 Q3 2025 NY Muni Fund Update Portfolio Manager Mike Perilli and Analyst Jack Muller provide insight into positioning for our NY Muni fund and current market landscape.
Passive Muni ETFs Lag Behind Actively Managed Mandates
More from MMM • October 31, 2025 Passive Muni ETFs Lag Behind Actively Managed Mandates MMCA goes beyond traditional muni exposure, and has outperformed passive muni ETFs.
Weekly Update • October 28, 2025 Securitized Munis Remain Market Stand Out MacKay Municipal Managers highlights strong long-term muni outperformance driven by demand for duration and widening yield spreads.
NYLI MacKayStrategic Muni Allocation Fund - Alternative T-bills
More from MMM • October 22, 2025 Investment Idea: Attractive Alternatives to T-Bills Considering interest rate scenarios in today's unpredictable economic environment, municipal bonds may be attractive alternatives to Treasury Bills.
Weekly Update • October 21, 2025 Credit Cracks Don’t Have Munis Worried MacKay Municipal Managers highlight municipal resilience, long-duration value, and opportunities as rates fall.
Weekly Update • October 14, 2025 Fed Easing Buffers Come from Different Places As Fed easing dynamics shift, municipal bond outperformance gives way to taxable strength, long bonds continue to exceed expectations, and diversified risk opportunities emerge.
Weekly Update • October 7, 2025 Muni Rally Runs into Spooky Returns Season MacKay Municipal Managers highlight disciplined muni performance in October, emphasizing that relative value remains the key driver.
More from MMM • July 31, 2025 The Missing Core: Why Taxable Munis Should be a Strategic Allocation - Part 1 MacKay Shields provides insights into the strategic value of taxable municipal bonds as integral to core fixed-income portfolios.
More from MMM • July 31, 2025 The Missing Core: Why Taxable Munis Should be a Strategic Allocation - Part 2 MacKay Shields provides insights into the strategic value of taxable municipal bonds as integral to core fixed-income portfolios.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • July 14, 2025 Top 5 Muni Market Insights 2025: Mid-Year Update MacKay Municipal Managers share mid-year insights. See how our five key municipal themes are tracking.
Liquidity Management is Critical
More from MMM • May 30, 2025 Liquidity Management is Critical Investors should give well-thought-out liquidity stronger consideration to managers with prudent, management practices.
More from MMM • May 15, 2025 Finding Value in a Shifting Muni Market Robert DiMella, CFA, Executive Managing Director and Co-Head of MacKay Municipal Managers, shares insights from our webcast: Navigating Complex Bond Markets
18 wheeler semi truck aerial view
More from MMM • April 9, 2025 Municipal Bond Market Update: Key Performance Drivers Robert DiMella, CFA, Executive Managing Director and Co-Head of MacKay Municipal Managers, shares timely insights on the municipal bond market
The Power of Tax-Equivalent Yield
More from MMM • February 26, 2025 Investing Essentials: The Power of Taxable Equivalent Yield (National) The pretax yield a taxable bond needs to possess for its yield to be equal to that of a tax-exempt bond is the tax-equivalent yield.
More from MMM • February 5, 2025 Consider MSTIX Amid Declining Money Market Yields As money market yields decline, tax-equivalent yields from short-term muni funds could be considered an attractive alternative
Five Tax Tips for Investors
More from MMM • January 16, 2025 Five Tax Tips for Investors Five practical tax tips investors may want to consider for their own investments.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 9, 2025 2025 Municipal Market Outlook MacKay Municipal Managers provides their 2025 outlook for the municipal markets.
The Power of Tax Equivalent Yield
More from MMM • October 7, 2024 Investment Insights: Power of Tax Equivalent Yield Municipal bonds are well-recognized for tax-exempt income, yet the potential magnitude of after-tax benefit can still go underappreciated by investors.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • July 15, 2024 2024 Municipal Bond Market Insights: Mid-year Update MacKay Municipal Managers reviews the status of their predictions.
The MacKay Municipal Managers Difference
More from MMM • June 12, 2024 The MacKay Municipal Managers Difference Key differentiators in MacKay Municipal Managers’ investment approach.
Opportunities in Active Municipal Bond Fund Management
More from MMM • April 30, 2024 Opportunities in Active Municipal Bond Fund Management Opportunities in Active Municipal Bond Fund Management
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 11, 2024 2024 Municipal Market Outlook MacKay Municipal Managers provides their 2024 outlook for the municipal markets.
T-Bill Yields Are Projected to Decline
More from MMM • June 29, 2023 Investment Insights: T-Bill Yields Are Projected to Decline T-Bill yields are projected to decline. What should investors do?
More from MMM • May 22, 2023 Morningstar Magazine: Complementing the Core Morningstar Magazine features MainStay MacKay U.S. Infrastructure Bond Fund and MacKay Municipal Managers.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 2, 2023 2023 Municipal Bond Market Insights In their Top Five Insights for 2023, MacKay Municipal Managers highlights why “Preparation Seizes Opportunity – Higher Accruals Set the Pace.”
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 13, 2022 Top Five Municipal Market Insights for 2022 Top Five Municipal Market Insights for 2022
More from MMM • June 3, 2021 Keep More of What You Earn with Municipal Bonds Municipal bonds played a vital role in building this country. Imagine what they can do for your income portfolio
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2021 2021 Municipal Bond Market Insights Our 2021 Insights explicitly point to the municipal market’s ability to withstand and adjust to the unprecedented changes of 2020.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2020 2020 Municipal Bond Market Insights In Uncharted Territory, Leverage Knowledge: MacKay Municipal Managers provides their annual insights and mid-year update.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2019 2019 Municipal Bond Market Insights Tactical Moves Guide Investors Through Market Uncertainty: MacKay Municipal Managers provide their annual insights and mid-year update.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2018 2018 Municipal Bond Market Insights MacKay Municipal Managers cite 2018 as the “Year of Risk and Return” in their annual outlook.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2017 2017 Municipal Bond Market Insights Rebuilding America: MacKay Municipal Managers provides their annual insights and mid-year update.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2016 2016 Municipal Bond Market Insights In their Top 5 Muni Insights for 2016, MacKay Municipal Managers highlights the “Liquidity Wars.”
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2015 2015 Municipal Bond Market Insights The Year of Transition to Active Management: MacKay Municipal Managers provide their annual insights and mid-year update.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2014 2014 Municipal Bond Market Insights MacKay Municipal Managers name 2014 the “Year of After Tax Returns” in their annual outlook.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2013 2013 Municipal Bond Market Insights The Year of Income: MacKay Municipal Managers provide their annual insights and mid-year update.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2012 2012 Municipal Bond Market Insights MacKay Municipal Managers offers their outlook and mid-year update for the municipal market in 2012.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2011 2011 Municipal Bond Market Insights MacKay Municipal Managers focuses on what’s driving the municipal marketplace in 2011.
Weekly Update • January 6, 2026 And We Are Back! Municipals are well poised to capitalize on the positive momentum that was present down the final stretch of 2025.
Weekly Update • December 16, 2025 Twas the Week Before Christmas MacKay Municipal Managers reviews the current muni market landscape and looks back at their 2025 outlook.
Weekly Update • December 9, 2025 Tis The Season to Be Swapping! Munis remain stable despite decreased Treasury yields, and opportunities arise with tax loss harvesting as NAVs are pushed below cost basis.
Weekly Update • December 2, 2025 Munis Look to be December Stocking Stuffers Despite tighter credit spreads, munis still outperformed amid government reopening.
Weekly Update • November 18, 2025 Despite Tighter Spreads, Credit Gems Exist Municipal bonds outperformed Treasuries amid strong technicals and reinvestment demand, with lower-rated munis offering attractive yields and low default risk.
Weekly Update • November 11, 2025 Coupon Defensiveness in Vogue Once Again Munis held firm as short Treasuries rallied, highlighting value on the front end and the importance of higher-coupon bonds.
Weekly Update • November 4, 2025 Think You Have Enough Munis... Think Again Municipals capped a historic October with strong relative performance, reinforcing their role as a core diversifier in underallocated fixed income portfolios as investors seek stability and value heading into year-end.
Weekly Update • October 28, 2025 Securitized Munis Remain Market Stand Out MacKay Municipal Managers highlights strong long-term muni outperformance driven by demand for duration and widening yield spreads.
Weekly Update • October 21, 2025 Credit Cracks Don’t Have Munis Worried MacKay Municipal Managers highlight municipal resilience, long-duration value, and opportunities as rates fall.
Weekly Update • October 14, 2025 Fed Easing Buffers Come from Different Places As Fed easing dynamics shift, municipal bond outperformance gives way to taxable strength, long bonds continue to exceed expectations, and diversified risk opportunities emerge.
Weekly Update • October 7, 2025 Muni Rally Runs into Spooky Returns Season MacKay Municipal Managers highlight disciplined muni performance in October, emphasizing that relative value remains the key driver.
Muni 360 Monthly Report • December 11, 2025 Muni 360 Report Key strategic themes, current market and performance data, expert commentary on market drivers, and in-depth regional and state-level fiscal and credit insights.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • July 14, 2025 Top 5 Muni Market Insights 2025: Mid-Year Update MacKay Municipal Managers share mid-year insights. See how our five key municipal themes are tracking.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 9, 2025 2025 Municipal Market Outlook MacKay Municipal Managers provides their 2025 outlook for the municipal markets.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • July 15, 2024 2024 Municipal Bond Market Insights: Mid-year Update MacKay Municipal Managers reviews the status of their predictions.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 11, 2024 2024 Municipal Market Outlook MacKay Municipal Managers provides their 2024 outlook for the municipal markets.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 2, 2023 2023 Municipal Bond Market Insights In their Top Five Insights for 2023, MacKay Municipal Managers highlights why “Preparation Seizes Opportunity – Higher Accruals Set the Pace.”
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 13, 2022 Top Five Municipal Market Insights for 2022 Top Five Municipal Market Insights for 2022
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2021 2021 Municipal Bond Market Insights Our 2021 Insights explicitly point to the municipal market’s ability to withstand and adjust to the unprecedented changes of 2020.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2020 2020 Municipal Bond Market Insights In Uncharted Territory, Leverage Knowledge: MacKay Municipal Managers provides their annual insights and mid-year update.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2019 2019 Municipal Bond Market Insights Tactical Moves Guide Investors Through Market Uncertainty: MacKay Municipal Managers provide their annual insights and mid-year update.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2018 2018 Municipal Bond Market Insights MacKay Municipal Managers cite 2018 as the “Year of Risk and Return” in their annual outlook.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2017 2017 Municipal Bond Market Insights Rebuilding America: MacKay Municipal Managers provides their annual insights and mid-year update.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2016 2016 Municipal Bond Market Insights In their Top 5 Muni Insights for 2016, MacKay Municipal Managers highlights the “Liquidity Wars.”
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2015 2015 Municipal Bond Market Insights The Year of Transition to Active Management: MacKay Municipal Managers provide their annual insights and mid-year update.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2014 2014 Municipal Bond Market Insights MacKay Municipal Managers name 2014 the “Year of After Tax Returns” in their annual outlook.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2013 2013 Municipal Bond Market Insights The Year of Income: MacKay Municipal Managers provide their annual insights and mid-year update.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2012 2012 Municipal Bond Market Insights MacKay Municipal Managers offers their outlook and mid-year update for the municipal market in 2012.
Top 5 Muni Market Insights • January 1, 2011 2011 Municipal Bond Market Insights MacKay Municipal Managers focuses on what’s driving the municipal marketplace in 2011.
The Hidden Cost of Cheap Beta: Why Active Munis Win
More from MMM • November 6, 2025 The Hidden Cost of Cheap Beta: Why Active Munis Win MMIN and MMIT capture overlooked muni sectors, delivering broader exposure and stronger results than passive ETFs.
What Passive Munis Leave on the Table
More from MMM • November 4, 2025 What Passive Munis Leave on the Table MTBIX and MTFGX deliver fuller market access and performance where passive funds fall short.
More from MMM • September 30, 2025 Q3 2025 NY Muni Fund Update Portfolio Manager Mike Perilli and Analyst Jack Muller provide insight into positioning for our NY Muni fund and current market landscape.
Passive Muni ETFs Lag Behind Actively Managed Mandates
More from MMM • October 31, 2025 Passive Muni ETFs Lag Behind Actively Managed Mandates MMCA goes beyond traditional muni exposure, and has outperformed passive muni ETFs.
NYLI MacKayStrategic Muni Allocation Fund - Alternative T-bills
More from MMM • October 22, 2025 Investment Idea: Attractive Alternatives to T-Bills Considering interest rate scenarios in today's unpredictable economic environment, municipal bonds may be attractive alternatives to Treasury Bills.
More from MMM • July 31, 2025 The Missing Core: Why Taxable Munis Should be a Strategic Allocation - Part 2 MacKay Shields provides insights into the strategic value of taxable municipal bonds as integral to core fixed-income portfolios.
More from MMM • July 31, 2025 The Missing Core: Why Taxable Munis Should be a Strategic Allocation - Part 1 MacKay Shields provides insights into the strategic value of taxable municipal bonds as integral to core fixed-income portfolios.
Liquidity Management is Critical
More from MMM • May 30, 2025 Liquidity Management is Critical Investors should give well-thought-out liquidity stronger consideration to managers with prudent, management practices.
More from MMM • May 15, 2025 Finding Value in a Shifting Muni Market Robert DiMella, CFA, Executive Managing Director and Co-Head of MacKay Municipal Managers, shares insights from our webcast: Navigating Complex Bond Markets
18 wheeler semi truck aerial view
More from MMM • April 9, 2025 Municipal Bond Market Update: Key Performance Drivers Robert DiMella, CFA, Executive Managing Director and Co-Head of MacKay Municipal Managers, shares timely insights on the municipal bond market
The Power of Tax-Equivalent Yield
More from MMM • February 26, 2025 Investing Essentials: The Power of Taxable Equivalent Yield (National) The pretax yield a taxable bond needs to possess for its yield to be equal to that of a tax-exempt bond is the tax-equivalent yield.
More from MMM • February 5, 2025 Consider MSTIX Amid Declining Money Market Yields As money market yields decline, tax-equivalent yields from short-term muni funds could be considered an attractive alternative
Five Tax Tips for Investors
More from MMM • January 16, 2025 Five Tax Tips for Investors Five practical tax tips investors may want to consider for their own investments.
The Power of Tax Equivalent Yield
More from MMM • October 7, 2024 Investment Insights: Power of Tax Equivalent Yield Municipal bonds are well-recognized for tax-exempt income, yet the potential magnitude of after-tax benefit can still go underappreciated by investors.
The MacKay Municipal Managers Difference
More from MMM • June 12, 2024 The MacKay Municipal Managers Difference Key differentiators in MacKay Municipal Managers’ investment approach.
Opportunities in Active Municipal Bond Fund Management
More from MMM • April 30, 2024 Opportunities in Active Municipal Bond Fund Management Opportunities in Active Municipal Bond Fund Management
T-Bill Yields Are Projected to Decline
More from MMM • June 29, 2023 Investment Insights: T-Bill Yields Are Projected to Decline T-Bill yields are projected to decline. What should investors do?
More from MMM • May 22, 2023 Morningstar Magazine: Complementing the Core Morningstar Magazine features MainStay MacKay U.S. Infrastructure Bond Fund and MacKay Municipal Managers.
More from MMM • June 3, 2021 Keep More of What You Earn with Municipal Bonds Municipal bonds played a vital role in building this country. Imagine what they can do for your income portfolio
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Why MacKay Municipal Managers

Rely on the leaders in active municipal investing for a time-tested approach from a tenured team.
 
        

Learn more  ❯  

MacKay Team

   

Investment Solutions from the Minds Behind Munis

MacKay Municipal Managers delivers a suite of municipal bond solutions, available in multiple structures.

Explore Muni Solutions  

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Explore Insights from MacKay Municipal Managers

Why MacKay Municipal Managers

Rely on the leaders in active municipal investing for a time-tested approach from a tenured team.
 

Learn more  ❯  

MacKay Team

    

Investment Solutions from the Minds Behind Munis

MacKay Municipal Managers delivers a suite of municipal bond solutions, available in multiple structures.

   

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CONTACT US
Have a Question?

Contact us to find out how our muni solutions fit into your portfolio and learn more about our broad range of investment products and solutions. 

    


About MacKay Municipal Managers™

MacKay Municipal Managers™ is a recognized leader in active municipal bond investing and is entrusted with $XX billion in assets under management, as of December 31, 2025. The team manages a suite of highly rated municipal bond solutions available in multiple vehicles. MacKay Municipal Managers™ is a fundamental relative-value bond manager that combines a top-down approach with bottom-up, credit research. Our investment philosophy is centered on the belief that strong long-term performance can be achieved with a relative value, research driven approach in a highly fragmented, inefficient municipal bond market.


About MacKay Shields LLC

MacKay Shields LLC (together with its subsidiaries, "MacKay")*, a New York Life Investments company, is a global asset management firm with $158B billion in assets under management** as of September 30, 2025. MacKay manages fixed income strategies for high-net worth individuals and institutional clients through separately managed accounts and collective investment vehicles including private funds, collective investment trusts, UCITS, ETFs, closed end funds and mutual funds. MacKay provides investors with specialty fixed income expertise across global fixed income markets including municipal bonds, high yield bonds, investment grade bonds, structured credit, and emerging markets debt. The MacKay Shields client experience provides investors direct access to senior investment professionals. For more information, please visit www.mackayshields.com or follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.


* MacKay Shields is a wholly owned subsidiary of New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC, which is wholly owned by New York Life Insurance Company. "New York Life Investments" is both a service mark, and the common trade name of certain investment advisers affiliated with New York Life Insurance Company.


** Assets under management (AUM) as of December 31, 2025 represents assets managed by MacKay Shields LLC and its subsidiaries but excludes certain accounts and other assets over which MacKay Shields continues to exercise discretionary authority to liquidate but which are no longer actively managed.


About Risk


Municipal Bond risks include the ability of the issuer to repay the obligation, the relative lack of information about certain issuers, and the possibility of future tax and legislative changes, which could affect the market for and value of municipal securities. Bonds face interest-rate and credit risk. When interest rates rise, bond values can decrease, and there's a risk that the issuer may not pay interest or principal on time.

High-yield or “junk bonds” are speculative due to their higher risk of loss compared to higher-quality securities. Municipal bonds issued by or on behalf of states or municipalities may experience increased volatility as a result of adverse fiscal, economic, or political developments affecting those issuers.