Bonds

Chicago-area public transit needs an operational makeover to build its case with the public and state lawmakers for new funding to help plug the funding gap when federal COVID-19 relief funds are exhausted.   That was a central takeaway from a panel discussion — “Solving the Transit Funding Riddle in Northeast Illinois and Beyond” —

Municipals were mixed to start the week as participants await a $7 billion-plus new-issue calendar, while U.S. Treasuries were firmer and equities were mixed. The two-year muni-Treasury ratio Monday was at 62%, the three-year at 64%, the five-year at 65%, the 10-year at 67% and the 30-year at 91%, according to Refinitiv MMD’s 3 p.m.

Inflation, a banking crisis and the remnants of COVID-19 related issues make forecasts more difficult than usual. Heading into next week’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting, a division remains between those who expect this to provide the last of the quarter-point rate hikes and those who see another coming. Recession also splits economists, with some

The Puerto Rico Oversight Board and other parties are still trying to determine how District Court Judge Judge Laura Taylor Swain’s March ruling in the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority bankruptcy will affect the bondholders’ payout, Puerto Rico Oversight Board Chair David Skeel said Friday. “The implications for the claim that the bondholders have is

Municipals were steady throughout most of the curve, though the front end did see smaller cuts on Friday to close out week that saw a significant correction for the asset class, while U.S. Treasuries were weaker, and equities ended down. It was too-rich ratios, too much outperformance to taxables and too much supply this week

A so-called “fix” for Chicago’s “Tier 2” firefighters to ensure benefits meet federal requirements carries a $350 million price tag. That’s what officials told a House committee that moved the bill forward over the city’s objections. And a police “fix” carries a more burdensome toll of at least $1 billion, sources said. “The city of

New York State is heading to market with a sale of green bonds aimed at refunding some debt previously issued for special projects. Loop Capital Markets and Barclays Capital as lead managers plan to price the New York State Environmental Facilities Corp.’s $150.555 million of Series 2023A tax-exempt state revolving funds revenue green bonds on

Fresh off two ratings upgrades this month, Nassau County, New York, is set to issue $269.54 million of general obligation bonds in two separate sales in the upcoming week. First, J.P. Morgan Securities will price the county’s $114.86 million of Series 2023B (Aa3/AA-minus/A-plus/NR) general improvement refunding GOs on Tuesday. On Thursday, the county will competitively

Municipals were mixed Thursday, but the selloff appeared to subside, just as muni mutual funds saw the largest outflows year-to-date. U.S. Treasuries rallied and equities ended down. Outflows from municipal bond mutual funds intensified as Refinitiv Lipper reported $2.876 billion was pulled from them as of Wednesday after $255.794 million of outflows the week prior.

The Florida Legislature has passed a bill that bans the issuance of municipal bonds using environmental, social or governance standards. The bill now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis for his signature. House Bill 3 passed in the Senate by a 23 to 12 vote along party lines. It was approved last month by the House

The top two municipal bond insurers wrapped $5.735 billion in the first quarter of 2023, a 32% decrease from the $8.430 billion of deals done over the same period in 2022, according to Refinitiv data. The industry par amount for the top two issuers was achieved in 260 deals in 2023 versus 419 deals in

Municipals continued to be hit hard on the front end of the curve in secondary trading as a $2 billion-plus deal from Illinois took focus in the primary. U.S. Treasuries were weaker, while equities ended mixed. Triple-A benchmark yields were cut 11 to 15 basis points, depending on the curve at one-year and nine to

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s upcoming quarterly meeting on April 26-27 will discuss its recent efforts in improving information and practices for dealers, including its recent proposed amendments to Rules G-47 on time of trade disclosures and D-15 on sophisticated municipal market professionals as well as a retrospective rule review for Rule G-12 on uniform

Three parties filed arguments urging Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority bankruptcy Judge Laura Taylor Swain to not certify a bondholder appeal of her ruling that the bondholders do not have perfected liens on PREPA’s revenues. The Puerto Rico Oversight Board, the Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority, and fuel line lenders filed separate objections Monday

Ahead of a May 16 special election on a $2.1 billion entertainment district that includes an arena for the National Hockey League’s Arizona Coyotes, Tempe voters are being hit with dueling views on the project’s economic impact. The nonpartisan Grand Canyon Institute, which cited the arena and a music venue as the mixed-use development’s primary

Massachusetts’ House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a $659 million tax cut package, handing off to the Senate one of the largest tax cut proposals in state history. In a 150–3 vote, the Democratic-majority House approved a $659 million proposal introduced by Rep. Ronald Mariano last week, a package in line with, but notably smaller, than

A Puerto Rico municipal bond paid by a private company will default on June 1, two rating agencies expect. Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings have both predicted in reports issued in the past month that AES Puerto Rico L.P. will default on its cogeneration facility revenue 2000 Series A bonds payment due June 1.

S&P Global Ratings on Friday raised Massachusetts’s general obligation long-term credit rating to AA-plus from AA, and upgraded bonds backed by annual appropriations from the state. “The upgrade reflects our view that the commonwealth’s commitment to strengthen its budget management practices supported by the state’s improved reserves and a strong economy will be sustained through

Municipals were weaker ahead of a heavier new-issue calendar, while U.S. Treasury yields rose and equities ended down. Investors will be greeted Monday with a new-issue calendar estimated at $11.488 billion, one of the largest year to date. Triple-A benchmark yields were cut two to six basis points, depending on the scale, while U.S. Treasury

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said he favored more monetary policy tightening to reduce persistently high inflation, although he said he was prepared to adjust his stance if needed if credit tightens more than expected. “Because financial conditions have not significantly tightened, the labor market continues to be strong and quite tight, and inflation is

Rejecting bondholders’ position that they are entitled to full recovery, District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain set procedures for estimating bondholder claims in the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority bankruptcy case and deadlines shorter than requested. The parties should engage in a “true estimation process, not a protracted trial to establish a precise computation of