Bonds

Hans Hanf, former head of municipal markets at BAM, was remembered by friends and colleagues. Hans Hanf, former head of municipal markets at BAM, whose career in municipal finance spanned nearly half a century, died on Jan. 22.  He was 76. Hanf’s friends and colleagues remembered him as someone who could effortlessly bring people together.

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo sparked a budget firestorm ahead of the legislative session by proposing a budget with a deficit and naming a new budget chief. Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo replaced his budget chief just days before Nevada lawmakers convene on Feb. 3 for their regular legislative session, where they will discuss the governor’s budget

KBRA downgraded Chicago’s GO bonds to A-minus on Friday. The outlook is negative. Bloomberg News Kroll Bond Rating Agency downgraded Chicago’s general obligation bonds to A-minus from A on Friday. KBRA said the move reflects the city’s “extremely limited” options for raising new recurring revenues or materially cutting operating expenditures. It said those conditions will

<img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/21307028/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /> Municipals were steady Friday as U.S. Treasury yields fell slightly and equities ended lower. The 10-basis-point-plus UST rally in the week of Jan. 13 led to slightly more attractive muni-UST ratios as munis lagged, but not for long, said Barclays strategist Mikhail Foux. While UST yields were stable the

The Deer Island wastewater treatment plant in Boston is owned by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, the largest borrower from the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust’s revolving fund.Adobe Stock The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust returned to the market on Wednesday where its triple-A green and sustainability bonds were well received.  The $541 million negotiated deal is

The Texas House and Senate unveiled their budget plans for the fiscal 2026-27 biennium.Bloomberg News The Republican-controlled Texas House and Senate on Wednesday unveiled base budget plans for the upcoming biennium with both chambers proposing to continue funding and expand a massive property tax cut enacted in 2023. Armed with a record $39.4 billion cash

“The interval fund structure is well suited to the municipal market throughout a cycle,” said Alex Petrone, Rockefeller Asset Management’s director of fixed income.Rockefeller Asset Management A trio of interval funds new to the municipal bond market underscore the growing popularity of this type of closed-end fund as managers look for alternative investments that offer

<img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/21257304/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /> Municipals were firmer Tuesday as U.S. Treasury yields fell and equities ended up. Muni yields were bumped one to four basis points, depending on the scale, while UST yields fell up to seven basis points out long. As the last third of January progresses, munis are in the red,

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, called for pumping the brakes on further tax reductions that impact the state’s bottom line.Bloomberg News With a $23.8 billion budget balance forecast for the start of its fiscal 2026-27 biennium, Texas’ financial cushion remains plush, but other Southwest states are feeling a fiscal pinch in the wake of

MSRB Chair Warren “Bo” Daniels.MSRB The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board Thursday announced the members of its 2025 advisory groups, including those tapped for a new group that will focus on the intersection of technological innovation and municipal securities market regulation.  The advisory groups include a cross section of muni market experts who will provide insights

Fieldman, Rolapp & Associates acquisition of G.L. Hicks deepens larger firm’s bench in healthcare finance, said Adam Bauer, Fieldman’s chief executive officer.Fieldman, Rolapp & Associates California municipal advisory powerhouse Fieldman, Rolapp & Co. started the new year with an acquisition enabling it to deepen its bench in healthcare finance. Fieldman acquired Orem, Utah-based municipal advisor

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed into law a host of tax and spending changes that ratings agencies say should address a projected deficit but whose effects bear watching.Bloomberg News Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Ratings, and S&P Global Ratings say Louisiana’s recently adopted tax changes should address what had been projected to be a $587 million or

<img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/21211283/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /> Municipals were firmer ahead of a nearly $10 billion new-issue calendar as U.S. Treasury yields rose inside 10 years and equities were up late in the session. Since the start of 2025, UST yields sold off around 20 basis points but “retraced more than half on the back of

“Because of the broad, bipartisan support we have built for the LIHTCs, we believe there is a real opportunity to include housing credit provisions in the forthcoming major tax legislation,” said Emily Cadik, CEO, Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition. AHTC The Trump administration is sending out signals about how it intends to address the nation’s

Search and rescue operations in Los Angles Wednesday in the wake of the Palisades Fire. Bloomberg News Fitch Ratings placed four credits — led by the city of Los Angeles the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power — on rating watch negative, citing the region’s wildfires. Fitch also placed two utilities tightly linked to

Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., chairs the House Ways and Means Committee weighing the tax-exemption’s fate. The House Ways and Means Committee is considering the total elimination of tax-exempt bonds, according to a 51-page list of targeted programs, policies and plans for a reconciliation bill obtained Friday by The Bond Buyer. It’s a wide-ranging and tentative

“The best defense is a good offense,” said GFOA federal liaison Emily Brock of meeting with Congress to promote the importance of the tax exemption on municipal bonds.Donna Alberico With a “defense wins championships” strategy in mind, the municipal market lobby will head to Capitol Hill in the next few weeks for meetings with lawmakers

Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming said he would lobby Fitch Ratings for a rating upgrade.Bloomberg News Louisiana plans to sell bonds four more times this fiscal year and at least twice more in the next fiscal year, a Louisiana state official said Thursday. Amounts were not discussed and were not immediately available. The state will

Sean Duffy, former Republican Representative from Wisconsin and President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee as Transportation Secretary, told a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee confirmation hearing Wednesday he would cut red tape slowing infrastructure projects if confirmed.Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for transportation secretary, former Congressman and Fox News host Sean Duffy, pledged to trim

Dr. Bob Froehlich, John Rogers, Jr. and Diane Swonk took the stage at the Executives’ Club of Chicago’s Annual Economic Outlook panel Tuesday.Executives’ Club of Chicago The Fed may have two more rate cuts in store this year, there is a floor forming under the Treasury bond market, a short recession is a possibility, and