Category: Bonds

A higher inflation, higher interest rate environment will exacerbate pension-related risks to investors in U.S. state and local government bonds, moving those risks back center stage for the municipal market as the direct impacts of the COVID pandemic ease. From a bondholder’s perspective, pension risk refers to the possibility that pension costs can grow to…

Municipals were firmer in secondary trading and moved in lockstep with U.S. Treasuries while an active primary led by a large income tax revenue bond offering from the District of Columbia took focus. Equities ended in the red. Triple-A curves saw yields fall three to five basis points while UST moved three to six basis…

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Thomas Barkin kept his options open on how big the central bank should go when it raises interest rates later this month, following an increase of 75 basis points in June. “I am one of the guys who like the option value of deciding the week of the meeting…

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority has assembled a financing team and is seeking approval from a state oversight council later this month for bonds to begin funding an expansion project that is the target of two lawsuits. OTA has asked the Oklahoma Council of Bond Oversight to consider up to $450 million of bonds for new…

Massachusetts plans to bring $2.7 billion of taxable business-tax backed special obligation revenue bonds with a social designation, marking the largest environmental, social and governance deal to date in the municipal market. The deal is also one of the larger taxable deals in 2022 in a year that has seen a significant drop in taxable…

Los Angeles International Airport received a $50 million grant from the federal infrastructure bill for terminal road improvements, among the largest dispersed from the $1 billion allocated to 85 airports nationally. The grants are the first allotment in a five-year, $5 billion airport terminal grant program funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Transportation…

The Supreme Court decision in Carson v. Makin may render unconstitutional issuer statutes that prohibit the use of bond proceeds for religious purposes. The court ruled last month that if a state chooses to subsidize private education, it cannot disqualify some private schools solely because of religious affiliation. The ruling could change the way some…

Municipals were mixed to close out a quiet summer Friday session ahead of a larger new-issue calendar that sees several billion-dollar deals. Triple-A benchmark yields once again largely ignored a selloff in U.S. Treasuries after a robust jobs report indicated the Federal Reserve will likely hike interest rates another 75 basis points at its next…

As Senate Democrats work to revive a reconciliation spending package, municipal bond lobbyists hope for a fresh opportunity to push through the federal muni agenda. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has reportedly been negotiating for weeks with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., about the terms of a spending package that would advance President Joe Biden’s agenda…

Municipals were steady to firmer in secondary trading Thursday as a large airport revenue bond offering from the City and County of Denver, Colorado, and the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority’s MTA deal took the focus. Municipals continued to ignore the movements of U.S. Treasuries, which saw yields rise for the second day, while equities…

Calling climate change New York City’s biggest environmental threat, Mayor Eric Adams released a plan Thursday that aims to help the Big Apple prepare for extreme rainfall in the future. “While we continue to invest in resiliency and infrastructure projects to protect us for generations to come, the Rainfall Ready NYC action plan will help every New…

Municipals rallied Wednesday, ignoring a selloff in U.S. Treasuries, after the Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes reiterated the Fed’s position it would raise rates 50 to 75 basis points at its July meeting to stave off inflation. Equities ended slightly up.. Municipals were in their own lane Wednesday and triple-A yields fell four to…

Revenue from Oklahoma’s oil and gas production taxes reached a record high in fiscal 2022, topping $1.5 billion, the state treasurer reported on Wednesday. As prices for the commodities spiked, the taxes generated $1.53 billion, up nearly 103% in the fiscal year that ended June 30 compared to fiscal 2021.  “Inflationary forces are a significant…

Municipal yields fell for the third session in a row following the flight-to-safety bid in U.S. Treasuries as recession concerns continue to grow. Equities were mixed. Triple-A benchmark yields were bumped three to six basis points Tuesday with the strongest moves out long. Falling yields over the past two weeks have been “a welcome sigh…

Signs of a rapidly deteriorating U.S. economic outlook have spurred bond traders to pencil in a complete policy turnaround by the Federal Reserve in the coming year, with interest-rate cuts in the middle of 2023. Fed Chair Jerome Powell — who is widely expected to keep lifting the central bank’s benchmark rate for some time…

Elizabeth Reich, who wrapped up her final day as Dallas chief financial officer on Thursday, will be joining Dallas Area Rapid Transit starting July 18. DART announced on Friday that Reich, as its new CFO, will be a key member of the executive team, reporting to President & CEO Nadine Lee and leading the agency’s…

Denver International Airport returns to the municipal market next week to complete financing for its current capital improvement plan, boosted by a rating upgrade as it continues to recover from passenger and revenue losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The $1.5 billion deal consists of $1.375 billion of senior lien bonds subject to the alternative…

The Puerto Rico Oversight Board again imposed the fiscal 2023 budget on the Puerto Rico’s central government. While the board had reached a consensus budget with the local legislature and Gov. Pedro Pierluisi in June 2021 for fiscal 2022, there was little cooperation with the board this year, said Board Member Antonio Medina. The Puerto…

Municipals were stronger following along with, but underperforming U.S. Treasuries, which extended their rally and saw yields fall even further to start the second half of the year on continued recessionary fears. Equities ended in the black. Triple-A yields fell by four to seven basis points while USTs saw yields fall by up to 16…

A new fund dedicated to advancing social equity and led by an NBA veteran and a leading municipal firm is moving into New York State’s growing cannabis industry. Social Equity Impact Ventures, LLC, a premier minority-led investment team, will sponsor and manage the New York Social Equity Cannabis Investment Fund. This first-of-its-kind $200 million fund will be…