Bonds

Two recent lifts to Illinois rating outlooks cast a more favorable light on its bonds but whether the momentum leads to upgrades hinge on the state showing fiscal discipline as it finalizes a new budget and spends federal cash, market participants said. Moody’s Investors Service on Thursday followed S&P Global Ratings’ action last week raising

A San Francisco Superior Court judge has denied the city attorney’s request for an emergency court order to compel the San Francisco Unified School District to resume in-person learning. A preliminary injunction was filed by San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrara Feb. 3 who argued that the school district had not created a feasible plan.

Municipals maintained a mostly steady tone to firmer by some accounts Thursday following the midday rise in U.S. Treasuries, but primary deals got done with some repricing to lower yields. Refinitiv Lipper reported more inflows into municipal bond mutual funds to the tune of $592.4 million for week ended March 24 and high-yield funds reported

Illinois moved another step back from the ratings brink Thursday afternoon, as Moody’s Investors Service revised the outlook to stable from negative on its Baa3 rating, which was affirmed. The action gives Illinois a bit of space above speculative-grade status, though the rating itself remains at the lowest investment grade. S&P Global Ratings on March

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Wednesday recommended placing a $4.7 billion general obligation bond referendum before voters in November. As Cooper released his recommended budget of $55.9 billion for fiscal years 2021 through 2023, he noted the bonds would address the state’s infrastructure needs. He pointed out the advantages of the current low interest-rate

Municipals were firmer across the curve as the New York City Transitional Finance Authority repriced its $1 billion deal to double-digit lower yields and the primary and stronger U.S. Treasuries again helped to direct secondary markets stronger. The Investment Company Institute Wednesday reported another week of inflows with $2.234 billion coming into long-term municipal bond

Trinity Health’s proposed sale of Mercy Hospital and Medical Center for $1 would pave the way for the fiscally troubled safety net hospital just south of Chicago’s downtown to exit Chapter 11 and remain open if the deal is finalized. The Illinois Health Facilities & Services Review Board which holds sway over hospital closures, ownership

Princeton University revenue bonds saw strong competitive bidding, with yields lower than triple-A benchmarks as high-grade trading picked up and munis gained along with a stronger U.S. Treasury market. Triple-A benchmark yields were stronger across yield curves while ratios rose slightly. Municipal to UST ratios were at 69% in 10-years and 75% in 30, according

Municipals ended slightly firmer on an otherwise lackluster trading session on Monday fueled by new strength in the U.S. Treasury market. Triple-A benchmark yields were stronger on the short end with two basis point bumps to scales on bonds inside 2027, while ratios held to recent levels. Municipal to UST ratios were at 67% in

The economy seems to be gathering steam, though it is still far from fully recovering from the damage wrought by the pandemic, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said. “The recovery has progressed more quickly than generally expected and looks to be strengthening,” Powell said in prepared testimony to be delivered Tuesday to the House Financial

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board is proposing a new rule that would require solicitor municipal advisors to disclose more information in writing, streamlining existing guidance in the process. The MSRB requested comment for draft MSRB Rule G-46 Wednesday evening. The rule would codify interpretive guidance from 2017 on its MSRB Rule G-17 on fair dealing

Municipal yields rose on the back of U.S. Treasuries as the asset class could no longer ignore the large swings in its taxable counterpart. Triple-A benchmark curves cut yields anywhere from four to 10 basis points. Municipal to UST ratios rose with Thursday’s 10-year at 67% and the 30-year at 72%, according to Refinitiv MMD,

Georgia native Alan Skelton will succeed David Bean as director of research and technical activities at the Governmental Accounting Standards Board April 1. Bean, who has served as the director since 1990, is retiring after 31 years in the position. Bean also has served as deputy chairman of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board

Illinois Supreme Court justices posed questions but offered little indication of how they might be leaning during oral arguments about a lawsuit that seeks to halt repayment of $14.3 billion of Illinois general obligation bonds. The court faces two questions in John Tillman v. Gov. J.B. Pritzker et al. One asks it to clarify the

There is a strong possibility a highly anticipated major infrastructure bill won’t have any Republican support, a reality that would limit municipal bond provisions that advocates have been pushing for years. Infrastructure advocates have called for a comprehensive bill by this summer, but some say that bill is likely to go through budget reconciliation —

Los Angeles plans to use its share of federal transportation stimulus funds to more rapidly restore full bus service and to fund rail projects that took a hit as sales tax revenues declined amid the pandemic. “With this pandemic wreaking havoc on our local budgets, these relief funds will go a long way toward helping

New Jersey’s proposed budget features an odd mix of dynamics that include a pandemic, an election year, massive borrowing, significant federal aid and a major pension liability problem. Gov. Phil Murphy’s $44.8 billion fiscal 2022 plan before lawmakers would raise spending by more than 10% and earmark about $6.4 billion toward pensions in what would

The municipal bond market was quiet Friday after a volatile week that saw 10-year U.S. Treasuries hit one-year highs and hold there following comments by the Fed that it apparently dismissed. Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell press conference didn’t necessarily change the market’s opinion that the Fed will need to move before 2023 and

The delay in the federal tax filing deadline until May 17 is expected to force many states to enact similar delays. And it will also complicate their budgeting process for the new fiscal year that begins July 1 in 46 of the states. Lucy Dadayan, a senior research associate for the State and Local Finance

Build America Mutual opened an office in Austin, Texas, to expand its presence in the state with its largest transaction volume. Greg Pacifico, managing vice president and head of Texas public finance, moved from New York to head the new office, while Vlad Puchek, an assistant vice president in the surveillance group, relocated from New