Bonds

Moody’s Investors Service Friday lifted Ohio’s issuer default and general obligation ratings to triple-A based on strong financial management and an economy that’s “poised for diversification and growth.” The state now boasts the coveted top issuer rating from Moody’s and Fitch Ratings, which upgraded it in September, 2022. S&P Global Ratings pegs the state one

Municipals were firmer Friday ahead of a large new-issue calendar, which boasts billion-dollar-plus deals from Pennsylvania and the New York City Transitional Finance Authority along with a sizable taxable Hawaii general obligation bond deal. U.S. Treasuries were rallying and equities were up near the close. Triple-A yields fell up to six basis points, depending on

The highly publicized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis v. California Gov. Gavin Newsom debate frequently devolved into a shoutfest. Fox News moderator Sean Hannity mostly stuck to his promise to moderate and not join the debate after introducing himself as a well-known conservative. Democrat Newsom, who recently outed himself as a friend of Hannity’s, said he

Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority bondholder GoldenTree Asset Management and bond insurer Syncora Guarantee gave notice they will appeal several PREPA bankruptcy decisions. The appeal, announced Thursday, covers all “interlocutory orders merging into the final judgment,” issued by U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain Tuesday for an adversary proceeding that the Oversight Board filed in

A $2.6 billion terminal renovation at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport was officially launched Thursday, while a feud over bond financing for the project continues between the city’s mayor and controller.  Mayor Sylvester Turner joined United Airlines officials at the airport to highlight the Terminal B project, which includes the expansion of 40 gates to

Water systems will need to turn to municipal bonds, federal loans, state revolving funds and federal legislative help to meet a new Environmental Protection proposal requiring water systems to replace all lead pipes within the decade. “It’s a big task,” said Dan Hartnett, chief advocacy officer at the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. “We’ll be

Municipals were firmer to close out the month, outperforming U.S. Treasury market losses Thursday, while the California Community Choice Financing Authority jumped into the primary with $1 billion-plus of clean energy revenue bonds, joining other issuers that moved up deals to take advantage of the strong market conditions. Municipals are poised to return well over

The judge in the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority bankruptcy rejected five bondholder arguments Tuesday, bringing approval of the Oversight Board’s plan of adjustment closer. U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain granted the Oversight Board’s motion to dismiss the bond parties’ — bond trustee U.S. Bank N.A., Assured Guaranty, Syncora Guarantee and the now defunct

Municipals rallied hard in secondary trading as issuers benefited in the primary market, which saw another active day, including an upsized $2 billion pricing from New York Transportation Development Corp. and a competitive loan from high-grade Alexandria, Virginia, which saw yields come well through triple-A curves. U.S. Treasuries were firmer and equities ended mixed. Triple-A

It took about two minutes into a House transportation subcommittee hearing Wednesday before the California high-speed rail project was singled out for criticism. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, chair of the Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, opened the hearing on intercity rail by emphasizing the importance of balancing federal policies and spending with realistic consumer

After decades of underfunding, West Virginia dramatically closed its pension funding gap, according to a recent report from Pew Charitable Trust. The state, which had the poorest funding ratio in the entire nation in 2000, reduced its debt burden by 90% over the decades, marking one of the most impressive turnarounds amid a national trend

Municipal yields dropped up to another seven basis points led by strong secondary trading Tuesday while an $875 million competitive general obligation deal from Illinois took focus in the primary. U.S. Treasuries made gains and equities ended mixed. Municipal triple-A curves saw yields fall four to seven basis points, depending on the curve while USTs

New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority faces potential budget gaps that could widen to nearly $900 million in 2026, according to the Citizens Budget Commission. The nonprofit think tank that analyzes state and city finances warns in a report released Monday that the MTA’s promised cost-saving measures may fall short and revenue from yet-to-be-built casinos could

Municipals were firmer Monday as investors prepare for a larger, $7 billion new-issue calendar while U.S. Treasuries made gains and equities were mixed near the close. Triple-A yield curves were bumped one to four basis points, depending on the curve, while UST yields fell by six to eight basis points. Munis continued to rally last

U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain said she would hear a bondholder suit in the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority case that Puerto Rico bondholders and Puerto Rico’s government argued should be assigned to a different judge. GoldenTree Asset Management and bond insurer Syncora Guarantee filed suit in the U.S. District Court for Puerto

A firm tone and hearty appetite from investors was evident Wednesday as the municipal market prepared for a shortened week due to the Thanksgiving holiday. U.S. Treasuries were mixed and equities were better. The two-year muni-to-Treasury ratio Wednesday was at 63%, the three-year at 64%, the five-year at 65%, the 10-year at 67% and the

A bankruptcy court recently ruled for the most part in favor of Chester, Pennsylvania, bondholders in an adversary proceeding filed by the city challenging liens on revenues for bonds issued in 2017 as part of a financial recovery plan for the city. Chester, which filed for bankruptcy in November 2022, has faced decades of financial

An Oklahoma law prohibiting state and local government contracts with companies that “boycott” the fossil fuel industry is the target of a lawsuit, claiming the measure prevents public employee pension funds from performing their constitutional duty to operate for the exclusive benefit of their beneficiaries. The case filed in Oklahoma County District Court this week

Former Sterlington, Louisiana, Mayor Vern Breland has, without admitting or denying the findings, agreed to pay a $35,000 civil penalty in addition to a permanent bar from future municipal securities offerings following his role in providing false projections to the Louisiana State Bond Commission in connection with two offerings worth $5.8 million, the Securities and

Citi’s municipal division appears to have been spared from initial reorganization efforts at the firm, according to market sources. Citigroup informed its employees Monday of an upcoming round of job cuts and managerial changes — the next large step in CEO Jane Fraser’s push to create a simpler, flatter company. Citi did not say how many positions

Wisconsin has released a request for qualifications from firms willing to serve as bond underwriters in either a senior manager or co-manager capacity. The state Capital Finance Office will set up pools of qualified investment banking firms, which it will use to designate underwriting syndicates effective through Dec. 31, 2026. Clarifications are due by noon