Category: Bonds

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and opponents of its plan to build bond-financed extensions will square off on Tuesday at a hearing set by the state Supreme Court. In its Aug. 10 petition to validate $500 million of second senior lien revenue bonds, OTA asked the Supreme Court to accept original jurisdiction for two lawsuits opponents…

Municipals were steady Friday ahead of a new-issue calendar next week at $6.6 billion, while U.S. Treasuries were weaker five years and in and equities rallied. “While the U.S. economic data remain relatively strong, this hawkish tone continues to put pressure on Treasury rates, which have moved higher by 10-15 basis points this week, more so…

Puerto Rico bankruptcy Judge Laura Taylor Swain extended the deadline for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority mediation to 11:59 p.m. Sept. 16 from 11:59 p.m. Friday and gave the mediators the option to further extend the deadline to 11:59 p.m. Sept. 30. This is the fifth deadline extension since Swain put the PREPA restructuring…

Fitch Ratings lifted Ohio’s issuer default and general obligation rating to AAA Thursday over its “fiscal resilience” bolstered by stronger reserves and cash balances. Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings rate Ohio one notch below the top mark at Aa1 and AA-plus, respectively, and both assign a stable outlook. The upgrade “reflects material strengthening…

The Commonwealth of Kentucky on Thursday plans final pricing of $233 million of special obligation revenue bonds that will finance renovations across a wide portfolio of state-managed properties. The bonds will be issued by the Kentucky State Property and Buildings Commission in two tranches, according to the issuer’s online investor “roadshow” presentation, with the $40.2…

Cook County, Illinois, extended the deadline by one week for eligible local governments to participate in a $300 million borrowing program that provides no-interest loans to manage a months-long delay in second installment property tax collections. The bridge loan program announced in July will spare suburban taxing bodies from having to issue tax anticipation notes…

In bringing trade reporting times down to 1 minute from the current requirement of 15 minutes, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s proposal to amend Rule G-14 could have a wide impact on smaller broker dealers and liquidity providers without the resources to automate these transactions. That’s according to comments the MSRB received as part of…

Municipals were weaker to kick off the holiday-shortened week, but outperformed a U.S. Treasury selloff that saw the 30-year UST yield hit just shy of 3.5%, while equities saw losses. Triple-A benchmark yields rose up to seven basis points, while UST yields rose 11 to 15 bps with the largest losses on the long bonds,…

Mediators for the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority restructuring asked the judge to extend the deal deadline from Sept. 9. The mediators asked PREPA bankruptcy Judge Laura Taylor Swain Thursday afternoon to extend the mediation, and deadline for a proposed deal, to 11:59 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time, Sept. 16, with the possibility of a further…

Sunita Lough, the respected head of the Internal Revenue Service’s Tax-Exempt and Government Entities division, is stepping down at the end of this month. Lough was serving as the commissioner of its Tax-Exempt and Government Entities division, which oversees compliance with municipal bond tax laws. Her official retirement date is scheduled for Sept. 30. Edward…

The encroachment of culture wars into the municipal bond market will likely increase, with Texas, which has enacted laws to punish companies for “boycotting” fossil fuel businesses and “discriminating” against the firearm industry, potentially leading the charge.  The laws have sidelined some big Wall Street banks from the Texas muni market; the state’s recently compiled…

Oregon economists predicted both moderate revenue growth and the possibility of a recession during their September forecast. Economists told lawmakers this week that either way the heady days of overflowing coffers are over. Under the rosier outlook, residents get that kicker rebate if the state forecast of $600 million more revenues than what was forecast…

What should be a full pipeline of national projects supported by an influx of federal infrastructure funds is being stymied by a “severe” labor shortage in the construction sector, and government on all levels need to do more to address the problem. That’s the message from the Associated General Contractors of America on the heels…

The Puerto Rico Oversight Board filed suit against Gov. Pedro Pierluisi regarding a labor law it says reduces the island’s economic growth and government revenues. The board is challenging Act 41-2022, which Pierluisi signed earlier this summer. It filed the suit Thursday night in U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico as part of the central…

Municipals were steady Friday ahead of a holiday-shortened week where investors will be greeted by two large deals from the states of California and Pennsylvania in an otherwise lackluster new-issue calendar. U.S. Treasuries rallied on the front end of the curve. On Friday the two- and three-year muni-UST ratios are around 67%. The five-year was…

An Alabama ballot measure would allow local governments to use voter-approved special tax authority that is now reserved for bonds to finance projects on a pay-as-you-go basis. Amendment 6 is one of twelve proposed changes to the state constitution voters will decide Nov. 8. Backers said it would give municipal officials the option to finance…

Baker Tilly US LLP will acquire the local government consulting firm Management Partners to supplement the range of services its already brings to the table in its public sector practice. Chicago-based Baker Tilly and Cincinnati-based Management Partners will close on the acquisition Oct. 1. All 96 of the firm’s professionals — most who count local…

Municipals sold off 10 years and out Thursday with triple-A benchmark yields rising up to double-digits on the long end as municipal bond mutual fund outflows increased nearly threefold from the week before to top $3.4 billion. U.S. Treasuries were weaker and equities were mixed. Triple-A benchmarks rose seven to 12 basis points 10 years…

Chicago O’Hare International Airport’s $1.77 billion sale drew about 39 new investors to the table Tuesday as healthy demand for the upgraded bonds made for a soft landing despite market volatility and a flood of airport bonds this year. With $6.3 billion in orders from 107 investors, the city shaved yields in a repricing that…

Municipals were little changed Wednesday, being cut a basis point or two in spots to close out August, while U.S. Treasuries sold off ten years and out and equities ended in the red. “The tone heading into month end remains mostly unchanged from the post-rate hike/post-Jackson Hole dialogue, with conflicting metrics holding back more momentum…