Bonds

Municipals were weaker to start the week, while U.S. Treasuries saw more losses as investors continue to see a stronger-than-expected U.S. economy challenge Federal Reserve policy efforts. Equities ended mixed. Triple-A yield curves were cut up to five basis points, depending on the scale, while UST yields rose six to nine basis points, pushing the

Citing rising U.S. debt to GDP ratio and climbing interest rates, a call to action for the public finance community frames the tax-exempt status of municipal bonds as at risk of becoming obsolete. But the report issued as a municipal commentary by Tom Kozlik, head of public policy and municipal strategy at Hilltop Securities, may

The inaugural sale of a California Housing Finance Agency credit that pools multifamily housing loans received a welcome reception from the market. It was the first time in nearly a decade that CalHFA has sold bonds under a party indenture for a pool of multifamily permanent loans, and as “a new California credit, the bonds

The deadline for the Puerto Rico Oversight Board to submit a proposed Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority plan of adjustment was pushed back to Aug. 25 from Aug. 18. U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain postponed the date despite objections from bond insurer Assured Guaranty and bond holder GoldenTree Asset Management. According to the

Municipals were mixed Friday while U.S. Treasuries made gains on global concerns over higher interest rates and the hopes for a soft landing fading. Equities sold off. “For those hoping things will be quiet on the [Federal Open Market Committee], or Fed front they can think again,” said Tom Kozlik, head of public policy and

After months of negotiations, the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes have agreed to a 20-year lease extension at Raleigh, North Carolina’s PNC Arena, helped by a package of incentives officials hope will spur wider development in the area. The Centennial Authority, which owns the arena on behalf of the state, put the final touches on a deal

Bondholder-sympathetic Puerto Rico Oversight Board Member Justin Peterson resigned Friday afternoon in protest of the impending Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority plan of adjustment. Peterson announced his resignation on Twitter. The board says it will submit the proposed plan on Aug. 25. “To be clear, I’ve decided to resign because I do not wish to

Municipal-bond investors have to assess an unusual risk as part of a $113 million bond offering next week: The historic strikes that are paralyzing business for much of Hollywood. The seller of the debt, a group affiliated with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is familiar to muni-market participants because it has issued

Municipals were weaker Thursday as outflows from muni mutual funds returned and U.S. Treasuries saw yields rise out long. Equities sold off. Triple-A benchmarks were cut three to nine basis points, depending on the scale, while UST yields rose up to four basis points out long, pushing the 10- and 30-year to multi-year highs. The

Last week’s pricing of $705.1 million of bonds for the NFL Tennessee Titans’ new stadium helps cement its place at the top of the list for American stadium subsidies. The Sports Authority of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County priced the deal Aug. 9. Proceeds help finance the construction of what boosters call

Municipals were mixed Wednesday amid another busy new-issue day led by the University of California Regents in the negotiated space and gilt-edged Tennessee in the competitive market. U.S. Treasuries were weaker again, pushing the 10-year UST to a high not seen since 2008. Equities ended the trading session down. Triple-A benchmarks saw cuts out long,

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response to the wildfires that took the Hawaiian island of Maui by storm will likely add pressure to negotiations to replenish its already dwindling Disaster Relief Fund, which will be a major focus when Congress returns from recess Sept. 5. The wildfires that destroyed at least 20 square miles, 13,000

Municipals were mixed in secondary trading Tuesday amid an active primary that saw two large airport deals from Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta price. U.S. Treasuries were also mixed, and equities sold off. The two-year muni-to-Treasury ratio Tuesday was at 63%, the three-year at 63%, the five-year at 63%, the 10-year at 65% and the 30-year

Municipals were lightly traded and mostly steady Monday while U.S. Treasuries saw losses across the curve and equities ended in the black. Triple-A yield curves saw a mix of small bumps and cuts by a basis point or two, depending on the curve, while Treasuries saw losses of one to seven basis points with the

Annual tax revenue collection in Massachusetts fell by 4.7% in fiscal year 2023, the State Department of Revenue announced in its yearly report released Friday. The state collected $39.2 billion in fiscal 2023, $1.94 billion less than in fiscal 2022 and 1.5% below the state’s set benchmark, the report said. Officials attributed the year-over-year dip

A “substantial number” of Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority bondholders agreed in principle to a settlement, the Puerto Rico Oversight Board announced Thursday afternoon. As a result, the board sought and received an extension to Aug. 18 for the deadline to submit a proposed plan of adjustment. Board Spokesman Matthias Rieker said the board wouldn’t

The White House’s supplemental funding request, sent to Congress yesterday, aims to pass $40 billion in additional funding measures and includes a $12 billion injection for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s dwindling Disaster Relief Fund, but some are pushing for it to be considered as a standalone bill over fears that it could be held

Amtrak and Texas railroad company Texas Central announced Wednesday they’re eying a partnership to breathe life into a long-stalled and controversial bullet train between Houston and Dallas. “If we are going to add more high-speed rail to this country, the Dallas to Houston corridor is a compelling proposition and offers great potential,” Amtrak Senior Vice

Connecticut officials say a debt service reserve fund insurance policy allowed them to fund the state’s new baby bond trust without resorting to borrowing. Since July 1 newborns birthed under Connecticut’s Medicaid program, Husky, have been automatically enrolled in CT Baby Bonds and credited with $3,200 deposit that will be invested on their behalf. Between

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green called the fires that have devastated Maui and resulted in 55 confirmed deaths, “likely the largest natural disaster in Hawaii state history.” The wildfires that started Tuesday on Maui have burned at least 20 square miles, 13,000 acres, including the coastal town of Lahaina, according to a live map created by

Municipals were little changed Friday, once again ignoring losses in the U.S. Treasury and equity markets that were digesting higher-than-expected inflation data and macroeconomic concerns. While the consumer price index came in nearly as expected on Thursday, Friday’s producer price index came in higher than expected, leaving some analysts to fear more Federal Reserve rate

Years late and billions of dollars over budget — but finally producing electricity. The milestone of full operations for the Plant Vogtle unit 3 nuclear reactor in Georgia has improved the rating outlook for three utilities that contracted to take its electricity. Georgia-based MEAG Power, Jacksonville’s city-owned JEA utility and Alabama-based PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, partners

Municipals were slightly firmer Thursday, outperforming U.S. Treasuries, as the last large new-issues of the week priced and mutual fund inflows returned. U.S. Treasuries saw losses across the curve following the July inflation read while equities closed out the session in the black. While the consumer price index came in mostly as expected, analysts remain

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is asking the Internal Revenue Service to clarify regulations that govern nearly 3,000 hospitals in the country operating as privately owned, not-for-profit organizations. The total number of hospitals in the U.S. is just over 6,100, per the American Hospital Association.  Not-for-profit hospitals are exempt from paying most federal and state

Municipals were firmer and Wednesday’s larger new-issue calendar was well received while U.S. Treasuries were weaker on the short end but improved 10 years and out. Equities were in the black as markets await Thursday’s monthly inflation data. “U.S. stocks pared losses after a strong auction signaled that Wall Street is very confident that inflation

Puerto Rico’s June economic activity index rose 3% from June 2022 and 0.4% from May 2023, but the average monthly growth for fiscal year 2023 was 0.3%. Compared to the figure for June 2013, the economic activity index was down 2%. “Unless there is production, we cannot make headway,” Heidi Calero, economist and president of

Cincinnati voters in November will decide whether to greenlight a plan pitched by city leaders to sell a 338-mile freight railway line and use the money to create a permanent investment fund to support infrastructure needs. If approved, the deal would mark one of the few instances of true asset recycling in the U.S. The

Municipals were lightly traded and little changed for a typical summer Monday while U.S. Treasuries pared back some of Friday’s gains and were weaker out long. Equities were in the black to close the session. While triple-A yield curves were little changed the past two sessions, some damage was done last week, leaving market participants

A preliminary deal to restructure more than $186 million taxable Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company bonds at 100% of original par was reached last week, which some sources suggest is a signal of a larger deal with parties in the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority negotiations. The Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority

Fitch Ratings’ dim view of the nation’s political and fiscal landscape dealt an ancillary blow to America’s largest public utility this week when the Tennessee Valley Authority’s nearly $20 billion of power bonds were dropped a notch by Fitch following its downgrade of the U.S. sovereign rating on Tuesday. The TVA, a corporate agency of