Bonds

The Virginia General Assembly is set to pass a new budget next week after a saga that saw the state’s Republican governor and the Democratically controlled legislature clash over environmental issues, school funding, and pay-fors.     Although the budget deal still needs to be officially approved during the special session that begins Monday, Gov. Glenn

Municipal Market Analytics said municipal bond impairments from January through April were the highest since they began tracking in 2009, with the charter school sector totaling most impairments. MMA recorded 63 impairments this calendar year, with 59 of them coming in January to April, according to Wednesday’s issue of Default Trends. The four-month total was

As the college football industry is remade, municipal bonds are part of Florida State University’s plans to generate more revenue from its program. The Florida State University Athletics Association plans to sell $327 million in football-related bonds as soon as next week in a deal managed through the state’s Division of Bond Finance. The Series

Municipal triple-A yield curves were little changed Wednesday as the primary market demanded investor attention and were well received. U.S. Treasuries were weaker, and equities ended mixed. Several large new-issues priced led by $1.018 billion of the University of Chicago revenue bonds from the Illinois Finance Authority (Aa2/AA-/AA+/), with yields bumped seven to 15 basis

Municipal market advocates are urging the U.S. Treasury Department to fill a long-vacant position for an in-house municipal market expert as Washington heads into into a key tax policy discussion next year. “If we’re about to have another round” of tax talks “and there’s no one in Treasury who can be a resource of information

Municipals were firmer in secondary trading as the primary market took focus, led by the accelerated pricing of $1.8 billion general obligation bonds from Illinois. U.S. Treasury yields fell out long and equities ended mixed. The two-year muni-to-Treasury ratio Tuesday was at 64%, the three-year at 63%, the five-year at 61%, the 10-year at 60%

Broker-dealer firms are stepping up in the primary market to fill the gap left by Citi’s dramatic exit from the municipal bond business last December, but a test of how secondary market liquidity stands up to the firm’s departure remains to be seen. That’s according to broker-dealer and financial advisor panelists speaking Monday at the

Municipals improved Monday in constructive secondary trading as investors await the larger new-issue slate. U.S. Treasuries were mixed while equities made gains. Triple-A curves saw yields fall two to three basis points while USTs were a touch weaker on the short end and a bit firmer out long. The two-year muni-to-Treasury ratio Monday was at

Illinois will issue $1.8 billion of general obligation bonds — $250 million taxable Series 2024A and $1.55 billion tax-exempt Series 2024B — to fund accelerated pension benefit payments and capital expenditures through the Rebuild Illinois program.  The fixed-rate bonds are expected to price this week. Jefferies, Siebert Williams Shank and Barclays are joint senior managers

As Florida’s Brightline passenger train floated its first investment-grade and insured bonds in a high-profile transaction last week, a key part of the deal for insurer Assured Guaranty was the control it would have if the issuer runs into debt payment trouble. Assured wraps $1.13 billion, or 51%, of the $2.219 billion of senior bonds

The Puerto Rico Oversight Board warned the government it will sue to stop a recently passed law that would reduce Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority revenues for the next 26 years by preventing a change in the net metering policy. In a letter to Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi, Senate President José Dalmau Santiago, and

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green failed to convince lawmakers to consider legislation that would have allowed struggling Hawaii Electric Co. to issue bonds backed by a rate increase. Senate Bill 2922, introduced by Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Chair Jarrett Keohokalole, would have allowed HECO to issue up to $2.5 billion in low-interest bonds, if it

Oklahoma’s list of investment banks determined to be “boycotting” the fossil fuel industry expanded with the addition of Barclays, making it ineligible for state and local government contracts, State Treasurer Todd Russ announced Friday.  Barclays joins Bank of America, JP Morgan, and Wells Fargo, which were placed on the list last year under the state’s

All markets rallied on the weaker jobs data, leading municipals to see yields fall up to eight basis points on what typically is a quiet Friday session, following a better-performing U.S. Treasury market. Equities closed in the black. The softer-than-expected April employment report led to some analysts believing this could put rate cuts back on

When Oregon voters consider $1.23 billion in bond measures on the May 21 ballot, issuers will be hoping for a more favorable outcome than local issuers received in November. Only two bond measures totaling $19 million were approved in November out of the $474.95 million requested during the special election. “Historically, the November election has

Municipals were slightly firmer Thursday as U.S. Treasury yields fell and equities were better to close the session. Municipal bond mutual funds saw another week of inflows as investors added $515.5 million for the week ending Wednesday after $200.3 million of inflows the week prior, according to LSEG Lipper. High-yield funds also saw inflows to

Strong sales tax performance means the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority retains its triple-A ratings ahead of a green bond sale next week despite long-term problems with ridership. Ridership is down about 50% from late 2019 pre-COVID figures and 60% from its peak in 2008. Yet the bonds are backed by local sales taxes with

The first piece of a general obligation bond authorization for a new Des Moines, Iowa, airport terminal is coming to market. The county is issuing $113 million of general obligation capital loan notes, Series 2024A, on behalf of the Des Moines Airport Authority. The debt will finance the design, construction and equipment of a new

The National Football League’s Chicago Bears last week unveiled sweeping plans for a new domed lakefront stadium in the city that they say would cost about $4.7 billion total and involve $900 million in new bond financing through the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority.  The plan has vocal backing from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, but got

Bondholders opposed to the proposed Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority plan of adjustment asked the bankruptcy judge to hear new evidence the authority will have a greater than anticipated ability to pay off its debt. The bondholders submitted their “urgent motion” to U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain Monday evening. They are calling for