Bonds

Municipals were a tad firmer ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, as U.S. Treasury yields fell and equities ended mixed. The Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes released after the early market close signaled the Fed is in no hurry to cut rates. FOMC members saw inflation “diminishing” but still needed more evidence it

California’s controversial high-speed rail project cleared a major milestone Thursday when the authority overseeing the project approved final environmental clearance for the final, and possibly the most challenging, segment of the route. The California High-Speed Rail Authority’s approval of a Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement during a two-day meeting last week marked the last

Reinvestment demand will remain strong in July, as large redemptions will support technicals and lead to positive returns. June saw $42.4 billion of redemptions, the highest redemption figure since August 2023, helped the muni market as new-issue buying last month was “pretty strong,” said Pat Luby, head of municipal strategy at CreditSights. Net supply for

When the west abutment on Minnesota’s Rapidan Dam partially failed last week, officials initially feared a total collapse.  The dam did not collapse, but storms caused water to overflow it, debris to clog parts of it and the flood flows to ultimately generate so much erosion that waters ultimately went around the dam. For days,

Municipals were steady Tuesday as U.S. Treasury yields fell and equities ended higher. The muni market will see few deals this week as issuers usually “take a breather” on coming to market during holiday-shortened weeks, noted senior vice president and director of strategic planning and fixed income research at SWBC Chris Brigati. Along with the

Enjoy complimentary access to top ideas and insights — selected by our editors. With the need for more high-speed rail lines in the United States, all eyes have been on the privately owned Brightline rail system, with one route already operating in Florida and the development of the Western route recently taking shape with a

Municipals were slightly weaker Monday but outperformed U.S. Treasuries, which saw larger losses 10 years and out, while equities ended up. Triple-A yields rose one to five basis points, depending on the curve, while UST yields rose up to 14. The two-year muni-to-Treasury ratio Monday was at 65%, the three-year at 65%, the five-year at

Pausing congestion pricing may be even more destructive than the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority predicted, according to a presentation at its board meeting last week.  The agency cannot afford to cover all basic maintenance, and must shelve any new upgrades or expansions until it finds $16.5 billion in revenue, the presentation said. The system

Municipals closed the month and the first half of 2024 on a quiet note ahead of the Fourth of July holiday-shortened week and a new-issue slate coming in at a measly $240 million — though there was much to watch on the sidelines. Munis outperformed U.S. Treasuries Friday by holding steady as govies saw some

Moody’s Ratings downgraded two private universities in California this week as higher education continues to grapple with declining enrollment and slower revenues nationally. Moody’s cut the University of La Verne’s rating to Baa1 from A Thursday, affecting $101 million in revenue bonds issued for the school in eastern Los Angeles County. It downgraded the University

The Supreme Court decision in SEC v. Jarkesy, ruling that the Securities and Exchange Commission can’t use administrative court proceedings in cases where it seeks civil penalties, may close down one lane the SEC uses to enforce the market, but it won’t altogether change how the Public Finance Abuse Unit operates. The municipal securities market

Issuance rose in June as improved market momentum, growth of Build America Bond refundings and mega deals pushed bond volume higher year-over-year for the sixth consecutive month. June’s volume came in at $44.769 billion in 798 issues, up 12.8% from $39.705 billion in 867 issues in 2023. June’s total is above the 10-year average of

The Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority (CECFA) created a non-profit subsidiary for its bond-financed purchase of a historic hotel that inspired Stephen King’s The Shining.  The authority’s board on Wednesday passed a resolution to form the Stanley Partnership for Art, Culture, and Education, LLC, to facilitate the financing, ownership, and operation of the Stanley

Observers and participants in the yearslong effort to turn around Puerto Rico’s economy offered mixed opinions about the significance of the impending departure of Puerto Rico Oversight Board Chairman David Skeel . Skeel will leave the board after a successor is approved. He has been on the board since it was founded in August 2016.

Municipals were little changed Thursday with the last of the largest deals pricing while municipal bond mutual funds reported a return to outflows. U.S. Treasury yields fell and equities were up near the close. The two-year muni-to-Treasury ratio Thursday was at 66%, the three-year at 66%, the five-year at 67%, the 10-year at 66% and

Puerto Rico Oversight Board Chairman David Skeel announced he will leave the board after nearly eight years. Skeel, one of the original seven members appointed in August 2016, shortly after the passage of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act, said he will leave when a replacement is in place. In mid-2020 then-Board

Municipals were weaker for the first session since June 17 as the market saw another busy day of issuance. U.S. Treasury yields rose and equities ended up. Triple-A yields rose two to six basis points while USTs were higher by two to nine basis points. The two-year muni-to-Treasury ratio Wednesday was at 65%, the three-year

Municipals were little changed Tuesday with the focus squarely on the active primary slate as U.S. Treasury yields fell slightly out long and equities were mixed near the close. The two-year muni-to-Treasury ratio Tuesday was at 64%, the three-year at 66%, the five-year at 67%, the 10-year at 66% and the 30-year at 84%, according

The water utility serving Harrison and Mamaroneck in Westchester County, New York, agreed to build a $138 million filtration plant by July 2029 and take steps to protect the water quality to 120,000 residents, under a consent decree with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and federal prosecutors. The agreement, announced Monday, resolved allegations that the

Municipals were steady Monday ahead of a surge in supply, as U.S. Treasury yields fell slightly out long and equities were mixed near the close. The two-year muni-to-Treasury ratio Monday was at 64%, the three-year at 66%, the five-year at 67%, the 10-year at 66% and the 30-year at 84%, according to Refinitiv Municipal Market

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to take up an environmental challenge to a proposed bond-financed crude oil-transporting railway in Utah. The Seven County Infrastructure Coalition, a Utah public entity that is spearheading the Uinta Basin Railway project, filed a petition in March asking the high court to review a portion of an August