Federal Reserve Board building in Washington.
Photo:
leah millis/Reuters
Yield-hungry investors have been piling into riskier assets, and not only speculative stocks like
GameStop.
For an example of how negative real interest rates are distorting prices, behold the municipal bond market.
Last month investors snapped up $560 million in bonds issued by junk-rated Chicago Public Schools (CPS). The district’s 10-year bonds were priced at 1.94% and the 20-year at 2.24%—a mere 117 to 105 basis points above the AAA muni benchmark yields. As the district’s finances have deteriorated, its borrowing costs have plunged. Go figure.
Five years ago Chicago schools had to pay an 8.5% yield—a 580 basis-point penalty above AAA—to sell debt amid concerns that soaring labor and pension costs would drive the district into bankruptcy. Asked at the time whether the district would be able to borrow again, then CPS CEO Forrest Claypool replied: “I don’t know.”
What a difference a pandemic and Federal Reserve commitment to keep rates at near zero make. Muni bonds are thinly traded and usually held in portfolio for duration. Most buyers need fixed-income assets that produce steady returns, which explains the ravenous appetite for higher-yielding muni bonds.
“Buyers are just starved for yield and the inflows into high-yield funds have been astronomical for at least the last couple of weeks,” one muni-market analyst explained to Bond Buyer. Increased demand has made it cheaper than ever for state and local governments to borrow and has compressed price spreads between high- and low-rated bonds.
Some muni bonds are also tax exempt, which makes them attractive to investors expecting Democrats to raise taxes. Tax revenue has been surprisingly buoyant due to the housing and stock-market booms, so investors may be shrugging off worries about defaults.
Municipal tax revenue declined by a mere 1% on average in 2020, according to investment manager Nuveen, while states and cities have received hundreds of billions of dollars in federal cash. Chicago schools received twice as much money from the last $900 billion relief bill as its budget projected. Now Democrats want to pass another $350 billion in state and local government aid.
Financial advisers are urging municipalities to take advantage of the rock-bottom rates to refinance debt. Pension obligation bonds, which were popular amid low interest rates and the stock-market rally in the 2000s, are back in vogue. S&P Global Ratings says pension bonds more than doubled in 2020 and are sizzling now.
Not so long ago, investors were burned by these bonds. Then as now, municipalities issued debt at low rates and used the proceeds to backfill pension funds. The interest-rate arbitrage seemed to benefit muni borrowers and creditors. But when stocks tanked in 2008, taxpayers were on the hook for bond payments and increasing pension contributions to cover their pension shortfalls. Puerto Rico, Detroit, and Stockton and San Bernardino, Calif., reneged on their pension-bond debt in bankruptcy. Lucky for politicians, investors have a short memory.
While Illinois and California account for most pension bonds issued, municipalities in Arizona including Tucson, Flagstaff and Pinal County have recently turned to the bond market to cover their pension holes. Pension bonds aren’t tax exempt, but yields are still attractive to investors. The city of Flagstaff’s deal last summer with a 2.7% interest rate was 3.7 times oversubscribed.
Meantime, pension funds have been pouring into equities and riskier assets to cover shortfalls and make up for low yields on their fixed-income assets. “As interest rates remain low, so do bond yields, making safer investment options less attractive for pension funds needing to meet targeted returns,” S&P recently warned.
How this all ends is hard to predict, but a fair guess is that some new Stocktons and Detroits are likely. The Fed has declared that the cost of borrowing is essentially nothing, government and corporate debt are soaring as a result, and eventually a price will be paid.
Journal Editorial Report: But Democrats set a bad precedent with Marjorie Taylor Greene. Image: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Copyright ©2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
The Federal Reserve Building in Washington, DC.
Photo:
lea millis/Reuters
Gold-hungry investors have accumulated riskier assets, not just speculative stocks such as
GameStop.
The municipal bond market is an example of how negative real interest rates distort prices.
Last month, investors added $560 million to Chicago Public School (CPS) junk bonds. The district’s 10-year bonds were valued at 1.94% and its 20-year bonds at 2.24%, only 117-105 basis points above the benchmark AAA mun yield. The deterioration of the District’s finances resulted in lower borrowing costs. Summary.
Five years ago, Chicago schools had to pay a punitive interest rate of 8.5% – 580 basis points above AAA – to pay off their debts for fear that rising labor and pension costs would bankrupt the district. Asked if the district would be able to borrow again, CPS CEO Forrest Claypool replied, “I don’t know.
What a difference between a pandemic and the Federal Reserve’s promise to keep interest rates close to zero. Muni bonds trade infrequently and are usually held in a portfolio for their entire term. Most buyers want fixed-income investments that offer stable returns, which explains the voracity for high-yield municipal bonds.
“Buyers are just hungry for yield, and inflows into high-yield funds have been astronomical, at least in recent weeks,” a Muni market analyst told Bond Buyer. Increased demand has made borrowing cheaper for state and local governments and narrowed the price gap between high-yield and low-yield bonds.
Some municipal bonds are also tax-free, making them attractive to investors who expect Democrats to raise taxes. Tax revenues are surprisingly high due to booming real estate and equity markets, allowing investors to put default concerns aside.
According to investment director Nuvine, local tax revenues will decline by an average of only 1 percent in 2020, while states and cities will receive hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding. Chicago schools received twice as much money as expected in the last $900 billion aid bill. Today, Democrats want to approve another $350 billion in state and local aid.
Financial advisors are urging municipalities to take advantage of the highest interest rates when refinancing debt. Fixed-income bonds, which were popular in the 2000s due to low interest rates and a rebound in equity markets, are back in vogue. According to S&P Global Ratings, bond yields more than doubled by 2020 and are now soaring.
Not so long ago, investors were burned by these bonds. In those days, and still today, municipalities issued debt at low interest rates and used the proceeds to replenish pension funds. Interest rate arbitrage seemed to benefit municipal borrowers and lenders. But when stocks fell in 2008, taxpayers had to pay the bond bill and increase pension contributions to cover deficits. Puerto Rico, Detroit and Stockton, and San Bernardino, California, discharged their bankrupt pension bond debts. Fortunately for politicians, investors have short memories.
While Illinois and California account for the lion’s share of bond issuance, communities in Arizona, including Tucson, Flagstaff and Pinal County, have recently turned to the bond market to fill their pension deficits. Retirement bonds are not tax-exempt, but the returns are still attractive to investors. The City of Flagstaff’s deal last summer, with an interest rate of 2.7%, was oversubscribed by a factor of 3.7.
At the same time, pension funds are investing in equities and riskier assets to make up shortfalls and offset low returns on their fixed-income investments. “As interest rates remain low, bond yields are also falling, making safer investment options less attractive to pension funds looking for targeted returns,” S&P recently warned.
It is hard to predict how all this will play out, but we can assume that a new Stockton and a new Detroit are likely. The Fed has stated that the cost of borrowing is essentially negligible, so government and corporate debt will skyrocket, and the price will eventually be paid.
But the Democrats set a bad precedent with Marjorie Taylor Green. Image: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
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