(Michael Farr) - We typically focus our market commentaries on discussions of topics that impact the equity markets. However, Farr, Miller & Washington also manages bond and balanced portfolios for its clients. A couple of things have happened over the past 2 years that have transformed the once boring fixed income market into something a bit more interesting. Today's blast will focus primarily on big changes that have occurred in the municipal bond market and how Farr, Miller & Washington is taking advantage, on a very selective basis, of these dislocations when building conservative bond portfolios.

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(Michael Farr) - Most of the larger banks have reported fourth quarter earnings already, and we must admit the results were better than we had anticipated. In general, the growth in problem loans declined, capital and reserve ratios strengthened, low-cost deposits continued to grow at a robust pace, and earnings largely surpassed estimates. Absent the bucket of cold water that President Obama threw on the sector when he announced new regulatory initiatives late last week, the 4Q results may have actually strengthened the resolve of those that believe we are nearing a peak in credit losses for this painful cycle. So while we at Farr, Miller & Washington remain non-believers for now (which we will explain further below), let’s examine some of the factors that have many people believing that the days of outsized loan write-offs at the banks are nearly over.

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