Category: Bonds

<img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20989474/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /> Municipals were slightly stronger as U.S. Treasury yields fell and equities ended down. Muni yields were bumped up to four basis points, depending on the scale, while UST yields fell five to nine basis points with the biggest gains 10 years and in. The two-year municipal to UST ratio…

“It’s going to be a tough balancing act,” said Steve Skancke, chief economic advisor at Keel Point. “They want to have full employment, they want to contain inflation, and certainly, certainly, the imposition of tariffs will contribute to inflation, both with the immediate price increase and with the disruption of supply chains.” Monetary policy in…

“You have these woke corporations who are dictating how people should invest,” Indiana Treasurer Daniel Elliott told a local radio station. “You have these folks from New York City and Europe and California dictating how Hoosiers’ investments should be invested. And that’s a problem.”Indiana Treasurer of State The battle over ESG investing is spreading in…

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has been working furiously the past 30 days launching her budget proposal and closing the door on a special session to deal with costs associated with a record-breaking 2024 wildfire season.Oregon Governor’s Office It’s been a busy 30 days for Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek. Since Thanksgiving, she has approved legislation drafted…

“Lawmakers will need enhanced pay-fors, putting a substantial target on the municipal bond tax exemption,” said Tom Kozlik, managing director, head of public policy & municipal strategy for Hilltop Securities.  ”I think there is a 50% or greater chance the municipal bond tax exemption will be significantly curtailed or even completely eliminated in 2025.”  Hilltop Securities Looking…

S&P Global Ratings Adobe Stock A sharp decline in debt service coverage helped drive a four-notch downgrade and CreditWatch placement for wastewater revenue bonds issued by Salinas, California. S&P Global Ratings Monday cut the debt to BBB-plus from AA-minus and put the rating on CreditWatch with negative implications. “The downgrade reflects our view of the…

<img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20962238/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /> Municipals ignored losses in U.S. Treasuries Friday ahead of another week without new-issue supply to provide direction. Equities saw losses. Triple-A muni yield curves were unchanged while USTs saw losses of up to six basis points while the 10-year UST closed the session above 4.6%. While Friday’s muni session…

“This ruling protects critical funding that helps us provide public safety, infrastructure and other essential services for our residents,” Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan said.City of Round Rock, Texas A Texas judge ruled largely in favor of six cities that sued the state comptroller over a move that would have cost them millions of dollars…

<img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20953080/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /> Municipals were little changed Thursday along with U.S. Treasuries while equities made gains. Mutual funds saw more outflows while money market funds were back in the black. The market is in a “seasonal winter softness” period where technicals are weak at the moment, said Jeff Timlin, a managing partner…

President-elect Donald Trump, pictured here at the December reopening of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame, has pledged to shift the country’s energy and infrastructure priorities.Nathan Laine/Bloomberg The outlook for the public infrastructure market next year is a mix of optimism and uncertainty as municipal market participants look forward to a rush of projects amid threats to…

Laura Dougherty, staff attorney for the Howard Jarvis Association, was granted a one-month extension to Jan. 31 to file briefs in the case against San Jose.Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association The California Supreme Court agreed to an extension for filing briefs in San Jose v. Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association, the primary case challenging cities’ use of…

Chicago’s 2025 budget does not materially alter its credit profile, Moody’s Ratings said this week.Bloomberg News Chicago’s 2025 budget that passed the City Council this month will not materially alter the city’s credit profile, Moody’s Ratings said in a Monday statement. The final 2025 budget featured no property tax hike, and received criticism for using…

<img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20935176/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /> Municipals were steady to slightly weaker Tuesday as U.S. Treasuries closed the session a bit stronger while equities were in the black. The two-year municipal to UST ratio Tuesday was at 65%, the five-year at 65%, the 10-year at 67% and the 30-year at 82%, according to Municipal Market…

The aerial view of San Francisco was taken during better times in 2015 when the city’s tech industry was thriving and commercial rents were skyrocketing.David Paul Morris/Bloomberg San Francisco’s continuing weakened economic trends and deficit spending have resulted in a one-notch downgrade to AA-plus from AAA of its long-term rating and a negative outlook from…

<img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20924481/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /> Municipals were little changed Monday ahead of the holidays as U.S. Treasury yields rose and equities were mixed. The two-year municipal to UST ratio Monday was at 64%, the five-year at 65%, the 10-year at 67% and the 30-year at 82%, according to Municipal Market Data’s 3 p.m. EST…

A California hospital during the pandemic in early 2021. Hospital sector recovery from COVID-19 may be turned around by Medicaid cuts under Trump, industry analysts say.Bloomberg News If President-elect Trump’s ideas for healthcare move forward, California’s budget as well its hospitals are likely to face challenges. The Golden State wouldn’t be alone, as the proposed changes…

“The whole goal of the bond fund was, ‘how can we further extend economic development,’ said Craig Teamer, director of finance and special projects for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. ”If you’re looking to amplify some additional investment in economic development, a bond fund could be considered, and it’s also could be a revenue stream. There…

Palomar Health’s continuing financial woes caused Fitch to push its ratings further into junk territory.Palomar Health The ratings of troubled Palomar Health, an Escondido-based two-hospital system, took another hit this week, falling further down the Fitch Ratings junk scale as its financial situation worsened. In a Wednesday report, Fitch cited a “significant cyber event that…

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed suit against Silver Point Capital in a federal court in Connecticut on Friday.Bloomberg News The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged Silver Point Capital, L.P. with breaches of nonpublic information federal laws with regards to Puerto Rico bonds. The SEC filed its case in the U.S. District Court for…

&amp;lt;img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/20893870/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /&amp;gt; Municipals saw a stronger tone after U.S. Treasuries improved on a slightly lower-than-expected inflation print while equities made gains to close out a volatile week. “This month’s inflation print is quite benign, but does it even matter? The bottom-line is another one or two months of benign inflation prints will…