Bonds

Oklahoma revised its list of financial firms determined to be boycotting the fossil fuel industry, shrinking the number to six from 13 with three large municipal investment banks remaining on it.  Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, and Wells Fargo were on an initial list released by state Treasurer Todd Russ in May and will

Municipals were mixed in secondary trading Tuesday amid an active primary that saw two large airport deals from Dallas-Fort Worth and Atlanta price. U.S. Treasuries were also mixed, and equities sold off. The two-year muni-to-Treasury ratio Tuesday was at 63%, the three-year at 63%, the five-year at 63%, the 10-year at 65% and the 30-year

The top bond counsel in the first half of 2023 handled a combined $171.581 billion across 3,483 bond issues, down from $201.013 billion in 4,676 transactions this time last year.  The top 10 bond counsel, which welcomed four newcomers this year, accounted for $77.823 billion across 1,066 issues during 1H 2023. The newcomers, Bracewell, Gilmore

Annual tax revenue collection in Massachusetts fell by 4.7% in fiscal year 2023, the State Department of Revenue announced in its yearly report released Friday. The state collected $39.2 billion in fiscal 2023, $1.94 billion less than in fiscal 2022 and 1.5% below the state’s set benchmark, the report said. Officials attributed the year-over-year dip

S&P Global Ratings’ announcement it will not release new or updated environmental, social, and governance credit indicators in public finance comes amid confusion over their impact on bond ratings, as well as an anti-ESG backlash that produced a deluge of legislation this year to stop the factors’ encroachment in government activities. The rating agency called

The White House’s supplemental funding request, sent to Congress yesterday, aims to pass $40 billion in additional funding measures and includes a $12 billion injection for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s dwindling Disaster Relief Fund, but some are pushing for it to be considered as a standalone bill over fears that it could be held

Amtrak and Texas railroad company Texas Central announced Wednesday they’re eying a partnership to breathe life into a long-stalled and controversial bullet train between Houston and Dallas. “If we are going to add more high-speed rail to this country, the Dallas to Houston corridor is a compelling proposition and offers great potential,” Amtrak Senior Vice

Connecticut officials say a debt service reserve fund insurance policy allowed them to fund the state’s new baby bond trust without resorting to borrowing. Since July 1 newborns birthed under Connecticut’s Medicaid program, Husky, have been automatically enrolled in CT Baby Bonds and credited with $3,200 deposit that will be invested on their behalf. Between

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green called the fires that have devastated Maui and resulted in 55 confirmed deaths, “likely the largest natural disaster in Hawaii state history.” The wildfires that started Tuesday on Maui have burned at least 20 square miles, 13,000 acres, including the coastal town of Lahaina, according to a live map created by

Municipals were little changed Friday, once again ignoring losses in the U.S. Treasury and equity markets that were digesting higher-than-expected inflation data and macroeconomic concerns. While the consumer price index came in nearly as expected on Thursday, Friday’s producer price index came in higher than expected, leaving some analysts to fear more Federal Reserve rate

A “substantial number” of Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority bondholders agreed in principle to a settlement, the Puerto Rico Oversight Board announced Thursday afternoon. As a result, the board sought and received an extension to Aug. 18 for the deadline to submit a proposed plan of adjustment. Board Spokesman Matthias Rieker said the board wouldn’t

Municipals were slightly firmer Thursday, outperforming U.S. Treasuries, as the last large new-issues of the week priced and mutual fund inflows returned. U.S. Treasuries saw losses across the curve following the July inflation read while equities closed out the session in the black. While the consumer price index came in mostly as expected, analysts remain

Public universities are showing an increased interest in public-private partnerships to provide infrastructure and services at their schools. Three-quarters of higher education respondents in a new survey said they’re interested in increasing the number of P3s on their campuses. That is higher than last year’s number of 71%. The survey, which included 385 college and

Municipals were firmer and Wednesday’s larger new-issue calendar was well received while U.S. Treasuries were weaker on the short end but improved 10 years and out. Equities were in the black as markets await Thursday’s monthly inflation data. “U.S. stocks pared losses after a strong auction signaled that Wall Street is very confident that inflation

Minneapolis will sport an upgrade to triple-A when it takes its general obligation bonds on their annual trip to the bond market later this month. Fitch Ratings upgraded the city to AAA from AA-plus late Tuesday, ahead of the city’s $113.855 million competitive sale. The upgrade “reflects Fitch’s belief that the city’s long-term liability burden

Puerto Rico’s June economic activity index rose 3% from June 2022 and 0.4% from May 2023, but the average monthly growth for fiscal year 2023 was 0.3%. Compared to the figure for June 2013, the economic activity index was down 2%. “Unless there is production, we cannot make headway,” Heidi Calero, economist and president of

Transcription: Thomas Nocera (00:03):Welcome to another episode of the Bond Buyer podcast. I’m Thomas Nocera, regional reporter for the Bond Buyer, and I’m joined by Bill Glasgall, senior Director of Public Finances at the Volcker Alliance. You recently led a special briefing with co-host Jeannie Birch from the University of Pennsylvania on the future of

Municipals were lightly traded and little changed for a typical summer Monday while U.S. Treasuries pared back some of Friday’s gains and were weaker out long. Equities were in the black to close the session. While triple-A yield curves were little changed the past two sessions, some damage was done last week, leaving market participants

Fitch Ratings’ dim view of the nation’s political and fiscal landscape dealt an ancillary blow to America’s largest public utility this week when the Tennessee Valley Authority’s nearly $20 billion of power bonds were dropped a notch by Fitch following its downgrade of the U.S. sovereign rating on Tuesday. The TVA, a corporate agency of

Nearly two years after Texas laws banning state and local contracts with companies that “boycott” the fossil fuel industry or “discriminate” against firearm businesses took effect, investment banks are still struggling with compliance concerns. Wells Fargo is the latest bank to be scrutinized under the firearm law just weeks after being selected for a state