Bonds

WASHINGTON — Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said he would vote to confirm Sarah Bloom Raskin to be the Federal Reserve’s next vice chair for supervision. Speaking to Yahoo Finance on Monday, Tester — considered a centrist voice on the Senate Banking Committee — said that he would vote to advance Raskin’s nomination out of the

Municipals were weaker Monday, with yields rising two to five basis points, as U.S. Treasuries saw losses reversing Friday’s rally, while equities ended in the red on continued geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The municipal to UST ratio five-year was at 72%, 83% in 10 and 89% in 30, according to Refinitiv MMD’s 3

In an interview on Thursday, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard discussed his outlook for monetary policy following a report showing surging consumer prices. He gave his view on whether a 50 basis-point interest-rate increase would be needed, and the possibility of raising rates between Federal Open Market Committee meetings. Here’s a

How much debt does New York State have outstanding and how is it issued? The answer for inquiring investors is “It may be more than you imagine.” The nonpartisan Volcker Alliance released an issue paper on Feb. 3 that takes an in-depth look at the Empire State’s municipal bonds and other debts the state owes

New York State and its numerous public authorities and agencies owe $186.6 billion to bondholders, the federal government, and future retirees, among others. Without borrowing, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority wouldn’t have been able to keep the subway running during the COVID-19 pandemic and the state unemployment trust fund wouldn’t have had enough cash to pay

The Puerto Rico House of Representatives rejected a measure allocating money for bondholders and other payments connected with the court-approved Plan of Adjustment. Shortly after midnight Friday the House voted 25-21 in favor of the joint resolution, which would have amended the current year’s budget, one vote short of the needed majority for passage. The

Munis sold off, playing catch-up Thursday’s U.S. Treasury selloff, while taxables pared back some of those losses in a flight-to-quality bid Friday as equities were hit hard on U.S.-Russia tensions. Triple-A muni benchmark yields were cut by up to 10 basis points on the short end but the pain was felt across the curve with

Harvey, Illinois, has resolved Securities and Exchange Commission concerns over its compliance with a 2014 consent judgment that settled fraud charges, removing one hurdle to a debt restructuring. The SEC forced the city back into court in October 2020 over concerns the city had not fully implemented an independent consultant’s recommendations aimed at cleaning up

U.S. Treasuries sold off hard Thursday, with the two-year rising 24 basis points to hit above 1.60% and the 10-year UST surpassing 2%, after inflation hit a four-decade high at 7.5%. Municipals followed suit, rising by five to eight basis points, but dramatically outperformed USTs. Equities took a beating, particularly tech stocks as markets digested

Puerto Rico bondholders and the Puerto Rico Oversight Board asked the court to reject a teachers’ associations’ request for a stay on the Plan of Adjustment enactment, arguing granting it would potentially blow up the commonwealth’s exit from bankruptcy. The board and the PSA Creditors, which includes the biggest holders of Puerto Rico’s central government

Municipal yields were little changed Wednesday and the primary saw some action while U.S. Treasuries were slightly better on the day and equities were in the black ahead of Thursday’s CPI numbers. Triple-A benchmark yields were little changed while UST yields were slightly better outside of two years. The municipal to UST ratio five-year was

The Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority’s longtime head Dennis Reilly will leave after a replacement is found to join Fifth Third, where he hopes to leverage his conduit experience to aid not-for-profits through a commercial banking lens. Reilly, 50, joined the authority 26 years ago just a couple years out of college and 10

Municipals were weaker Tuesday amid another spike in U.S. Treasury yields while equities rallied. The primary market was active, with Washington selling $743.5 million of general obligation bonds at similar spreads to its last deal in November. The South Carolina Public Service Authority priced $930 million of revenue refunding bonds while the state of Ohio

The House was poised to vote Tuesday on a three-week extension of government funding to buy more time to negotiate the full-year budget, which is required to allow new infrastructure dollars to flow to states and local governments. “We’re still optimistic,” said Susan Howard, program director for transportation finance at the American Association of Highway

Municipals were mostly steady Monday in light trading, with some slight weakness on the long end, while U.S. Treasuries were little changed and equities ended mixed. Triple-A benchmark yields rose a basis point or two in spots while UST were little moved from Friday’s levels. The municipal to UST ratio five-year was at 66%, 75%

For much of the past year, I’ve felt pretty alone – at least as it relates to inflation. While I’ve been ringing the alarm bell for well over a year, expert after expert insisted that fears of inflation were overblown. In fact, back in February 2021, I wrote the following in The Bond Buyer: “With

Two Michigan-based systems — Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health — formally joined forces this week after clearing heightened anti-trust scrutiny ordered by the Biden administration across a swath of sectors last summer. The not-for-profit systems announced their intention to merge by signing a letter of intent in June 2021. One month later, the Biden administration launched

Parties filing appeals of the Puerto Rico Plan of Adjustment face an uphill battle as the bankruptcy judge who approved the plan would need to grant a stay of it for appeals to proceed, lawyers said. Four notices of appeal had been filed in the U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico concerning the plan as

New Jersey has followed through on plans to use its budget surplus to trim its debt load. More than $3 billion in principal and interest on New Jersey bonds has been retired, the state Department of the Treasury said on Thursday. New Jersey allocated $3.7 billion in the state’s fiscal 2022 budget to cut outstanding

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said investors need to brace for the Federal Reserve to potentially raise interest rates at all seven remaining policy meetings this year and even for it to hike by more than a quarter point in one go. “Markets have to be prepared for a rate hike in every meeting

Municipals were slightly weaker, particularly on the long end, but the asset class outperformed a selloff in U.S. Treasuries after a stronger-than-expected jobs report. January’s payrolls surged 467,000, and December’s were revised up to 510,000 from 199,000, causing Treasury yields to spike. “The inflation battle for the Fed and their monetary policy will be a

Idaho received its second rating upgrade in four months when Moody’s Investors Service elevated the state’s issuer rating to Aaa from Aa1 on Thursday. The upgrade reflects the state’s continued positive economic and demographic outlook and efforts to increase reserves to protect against the state’s volatile economic and revenue structure, Moody’s analysts wrote. Also upgraded

Municipals were stronger on Thursday with yields falling another two to five basis points on triple-A yield curves and new-issues fared well while Refinitiv Lipper reported $2.9 billion of outflows, marking the largest negative flows in nearly two years. The last time outflows were above $2 billion was on April 8, 2020 when they hit

After a volatile January with rapidly rising rates and higher municipal to U.S. Treasury ratios, analysts expect investors to come off the sidelines in the remainder of the first quarter as more opportunities have emerged. “Quarter one has sold off too far and too fast, creating opportunities — not only for the rest of Q1

Illinois would pump up now near-empty rainy day fund, pay more of its bills down, bolster scheduled pension contributions, and provide one-time tax relief under budget plans Gov. J.B. Pritzker laid out Wednesday. The state expects an additional $2.2 billion of revenue, about 5% of general funds, in fiscal 2022 and another $2 billion in

The two active municipal bond insurers wrapped $38.7 billion in 2021, an 8.7% increase from the $35.6 billion of deals done in 2020. It marks the highest level since 2009. The industry par amount was achieved in 2,151 deals, fewer than the 2,270 in 2020. Market demand for bond insurance increased steeply during the past

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said he would like to raise interest rates at the central bank’s meetings in March and May but played down the benefits of a larger-than-expected move. “Fifty basis points, I don’t think helps us — at least sitting here today, I don’t think that really helps

The University of Chicago won back stable rating outlooks as investment returns swelled last year and student-driven revenues bounce back with a return to campus. The selective private school’s enrollment levels and fundraising also weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, factors that have especially benefitted the ratings of higher-grade, private schools with healthy endowments and strong student

Municipals ended the month in the red but yields rose only a basis point or two on most triple-A scales on Monday while U.S. Treasuries were also softer and equities rallied hard. Triple-A benchmark yields rose slightly as did UST, keeping muni to UST ratios in a higher range. The municipal to UST ratio five-year

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker will propose a one-time, $1 billion tax relief package when he unveils his proposed fiscal 2023 budget Wednesday, joining the wave of leaders of Democratic and Republican-run states in looking to tap surging tax collections to provide temporary or permanent cuts. Pritzker’s proposal would double the existing $300 income tax credit