The wildfires may affect some municipal bond issuers in the devastated areas, but the impact to other California bonds or to the broader muni market is likely limited.
Some soft data metrics have started to rebound sharply and catch back up to relatively resilient hard data, but it's too soon to say whether the gap is definitively closing.
Economic data and policies out of China are typically delayed until mid-March. Stock volatility may be prevalent until initiatives are clarified after the Lunar New Year.
Donald Trump and Republicans support sweeping changes that could affect the economy, markets and investors. But narrow margins in Congress could complicate that agenda.
Stocks are coming off another banner year, but strength has bred a frothy sentiment environment, which continues to loom as a risk for likely coming volatility.
Find Market Commentary content
Are Preferred Securities Still Attractive?
Markets React to a New Administration
Are California Fires a Risk to the Muni Market?
Hard to Handle: A Look at Hard vs. Soft Data
Climate Shocks & the Muni Bond Market
What's Ahead for China in 2025?
New Congress Faces Massive Policy Agenda
Does the Resilient Economy Equal a Higher Potential Growth Rate?
It Was a Very Good Year