Bonds

Municipals were firmer Thursday as municipal bond mutual fund outflows returned, while U.S. Treasuries were steady and equities ended mixed. The three-year muni-UST ratio was at 55%, the five-year at 57%, the 10-year at 63% and the 30-year at 88%, according to Refinitiv MMD’s 3 p.m. ET read. ICE Data Services had the three at

Municipals were a little firmer in some spots while Treasuries rallied across the board, with yields falling double-digits following the Federal Reserve hiking rates 25 basis points. Equities ended up. “Investors are acknowledging that the Fed is nearing the end of its rate tightening cycle which is supporting a relief rally in stocks and lower

Bolingbrook, Illinois, was downgraded seven notches by S&P Global Ratings, which cited the Chicago suburb’s unwillingness to cover shortages on unrated sales tax revenue bonds as a management and governance risk. The village of 73,000said the downgrade “sets a harmful and disruptive precedent for any credit secured by specific revenues that do not pledge the

On the heels of a shakeup that saw several high-profile muni veterans exit Morgan Stanley over the last few months, the firm has tapped new leadership for its municipal group. The firm has named Alex Chilton as head of municipal securities, according to a Jan. 31 internal memo seen by The Bond Buyer.  The memo

Puerto Rico’s general fund net revenues were 28% above projections in December and 14% higher than those of December 2021. Through the first six months of the fiscal year, net revenues came in 14% ahead of projections and 3% ahead of July to December 2021, according to the Puerto Rico Department of the Treasury.  Net

In the midst of a supply and demand quandary — with the Federal Open Market Committee announcement looming on Wednesday — the municipal market began the week with a lackluster feel. That tone combined with the weakness in Treasuries on Monday — as investors were likely unwinding their longer-term trades and sitting on the sidelines

Chicago’s fiscal progress on structural balance and pensions drew rating upgrades and high-grade investors to recent bond deals but easing the longer term strains of pensions will require state intervention, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said.   Whether the city’s fiscal momentum can help Lightfoot win a second term is uncertain. She faces eight rivals vying for

Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital was awarded $135 million in grant funding by the California Health Facilities Financing Authority that it will use to expand pediatric programs in several counties. The grants are funded by issuing bonds through the Children’s Bond Act of 2018, a voter-approved bond measure that authorized the state to issue $1.5

The city of Miami and the county of Miami-Dade continue to rebound from the pandemic with unprecedented economic growth coupled with record low unemployment rates. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava unveiled plans to create an authority to fund innovation while Miami City Mayor Francis Suarez focused on the environment and housing affordability. The Miami-Dade

Republicans have finalized their roster of subcommittee chairs for the powerful House Ways and Means committee, one of the municipal market’s key panels. Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Mike Kelly will lead the newly-renamed tax subcommittee, formerly known as the Select Revenue Measures subcommittee, which writes tax policy and oversees tax collections. The position puts him in

Municipals were steady, down a basis point or two in spots, ahead of a paltry new-issue calendar, courtesy of next week’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting. U.S. Treasuries were slightly weaker and equities ended in the black. The three-year muni-UST ratio was at 54%, the five-year at 57%, the 10-year at 62% and the 30-year

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said the only solution to avoid a U.S. default crisis is for Congress to increase the federal debt limit, avoiding engaging with other proposed stopgap measures including short-term extensions or spending cuts. “It’s overly necessary for Congress to raise the debt limit, and I hope they do so in a timely

Merger activity among not-for-profit and for-profit hospitals dipped for a fifth consecutive year in 2022, with mega-mergers in the forefront of a sector dealing with operating challenges from inflation, a nursing shortage, and patient volume trends. Announced mergers and acquisitions dropped to 55 last year from 73 in 2021, continuing a downward course since 2017

After five years of growth that followed a relaunch of its municipal business, UBS Financial Services cut from its banking ranks this week in the aftermath of a down year for issuance and headwinds for 2023. The firm slashed 20% of its overall municipal team — which includes banking, sales, trading and underwriting — with

Municipals were steady Thursday in the secondary market while an $830 million deal from the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority took focus in the primary. U.S. Treasuries yields rose after the fourth-quarter gross domestic product report was better than expected and equities ended up. The three-year muni-UST ratio was at 54%, the five-year at 57%,

Municipals were little changed Wednesday, while U.S. Treasuries were firmer and equities ended mixed. The three-year muni-UST ratio was at 55%, the five-year at 57%, the 10-year at 63% and the 30-year at 88%, according to Refinitiv MMD’s 3 p.m. ET read. ICE Data Services had the three at 54%, the five at 58%, the

York County, South Carolina, priced $24.6 million of revenue bonds Wednesday to recoup costs incurred by the county to take over of a private water utility operation. The proceeds will cover a portion of the $36 million price tag York County paid to take over private firm Blue Granite Water’s water utility operations in the

The U.S. Virgin Islands’ beleaguered Water and Power Authority blocks development of the island, according to Gov. Albert Bryan Jr., who committed to fixing the authority’s problems in his current term, which ends January 2027. The authority’s “ongoing financial and operational woes … are an impediment to any developmental progress we hope to make as

Roger Millar, AASHTO’s new president and chief of Washington’s Department of Transportation, joins Caitlin Devitt to talk about the rollout of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, how a tight labor market and inflation are impacting capital plans, what a divided Congress means for transportation and an update on the Pacific Northwest’s high speed rail project. (24

Municipals were steady to weaker in spots to kick off the week, outperforming U.S. Treasuries, while equities were in the black. Triple-A benchmarks were cut up to three basis points, while U.S. Treasury yields fell three to seven basis points. The three-year muni-UST ratio was at 54%, the five-year at 57%, the 10-year at 63%

Connecticut’s surplus projection for the current fiscal year received a $324.7 million boost. The Connecticut Office for Policy and Budget Management’s recently announced forecast for fiscal 2023, which runs through June, projects general fund revenue of $23.2 billion. Compared to December’s projections, revenues are up $265.3 million and expenses are down $59.4 million. That $324.7

The state of California is expected to see more than twice the demand for its private activity bonds than what is available under the $4.7 billion cap allowed by the IRS for 2023, according to the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee. On Wednesday, the committee, chaired by Treasurer Fiona Ma, approved the $4.7 billion PAB

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said roughly $2 trillion of reserves could be taken out of the banking system without disrupting banks. Waller discussed monetary policy and his views on the economy during an hourlong event Friday afternoon hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations. During the event, he said the Fed could reduce its

Bondholders controlling more than two-thirds of the $180 million outstanding Puerto Rico Industrial Development Co. bonds filed suit against the Puerto Rico Oversight Board and the Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority seeking full payment. Affiliates of GoldenTree Asset Management LP complained that PRIDCO’s bonds have not paid since the passage of the Puerto Rico

A suburban Chicago hotel and conference center working to get back on track from COVID-19-induced operating struggles made a partial payment on overdue interest owed to some holders of $142 million of restructured bonds. Breathing room still remains through this year for the Westin hotel and conference center complex in Lombard from a bondholder-provided loan

Municipals were weaker in spots Friday, outperforming a U.S. Treasury selloff, while equities ended up. The three-year muni-UST ratio was at 55%, the five-year at 58%, the 10-year at 64% and the 30-year at 87%, according to Refinitiv MMD’s 3 p.m. ET read. ICE Data Services had the three at 55%, the five at 59%,

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority approved a contract Thursday with a consortium to run its electric generating facilities, despite observers raising some concerns about one member of the group. The consortium, Genera PR, would include New Fortress Energy, the El Nuevo Día and El Vocero web sites reported. New Fortress is a liquified natural

Municipals were firmer once more on Thursday as triple-A benchmark yields fell further and inflows continued. U.S. Treasuries were weaker and equities ended in the red. The three-year muni-UST ratio was at 56%, the five-year at 59%, the 10-year at 65% and the 30-year at 88%, according to Refinitiv MMD’s 3 p.m. ET read. ICE

Minnesota-based Fairview Health Services lost its A-level rating from Moody’s Investors Service and could fall further on the credit scale as it copes with worsening operating struggles that began before the COVID-19 pandemic. Moody’s lowered the rating Wednesday to Baa1 from A3 and assigned a negative outlook. Further downgrades raises the risk that Fairview — which

Municipals were firmer in secondary trading Wednesday as several large deals in the primary took focus and triple-A benchmarks underperformed a U.S. Treasury rally after data showed a decline in retail spending. Equities ended in the red. Triple-A benchmarks were bumped four to 10 basis points, while UST yields fell 13 to 19 basis points.