Bonds

Idaho received its second rating upgrade in four months when Moody’s Investors Service elevated the state’s issuer rating to Aaa from Aa1 on Thursday. The upgrade reflects the state’s continued positive economic and demographic outlook and efforts to increase reserves to protect against the state’s volatile economic and revenue structure, Moody’s analysts wrote. Also upgraded

Two Michigan-based systems — Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health — formally joined forces this week after clearing heightened anti-trust scrutiny ordered by the Biden administration across a swath of sectors last summer. The not-for-profit systems announced their intention to merge by signing a letter of intent in June 2021. One month later, the Biden administration launched

New Jersey has followed through on plans to use its budget surplus to trim its debt load. More than $3 billion in principal and interest on New Jersey bonds has been retired, the state Department of the Treasury said on Thursday. New Jersey allocated $3.7 billion in the state’s fiscal 2022 budget to cut outstanding

Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said investors need to brace for the Federal Reserve to potentially raise interest rates at all seven remaining policy meetings this year and even for it to hike by more than a quarter point in one go. “Markets have to be prepared for a rate hike in every meeting

Municipals were slightly weaker, particularly on the long end, but the asset class outperformed a selloff in U.S. Treasuries after a stronger-than-expected jobs report. January’s payrolls surged 467,000, and December’s were revised up to 510,000 from 199,000, causing Treasury yields to spike. “The inflation battle for the Fed and their monetary policy will be a

Parties filing appeals of the Puerto Rico Plan of Adjustment face an uphill battle as the bankruptcy judge who approved the plan would need to grant a stay of it for appeals to proceed, lawyers said. Four notices of appeal had been filed in the U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico concerning the plan as

Municipals were stronger on Thursday with yields falling another two to five basis points on triple-A yield curves and new-issues fared well while Refinitiv Lipper reported $2.9 billion of outflows, marking the largest negative flows in nearly two years. The last time outflows were above $2 billion was on April 8, 2020 when they hit

After a volatile January with rapidly rising rates and higher municipal to U.S. Treasury ratios, analysts expect investors to come off the sidelines in the remainder of the first quarter as more opportunities have emerged. “Quarter one has sold off too far and too fast, creating opportunities — not only for the rest of Q1

Illinois would pump up now near-empty rainy day fund, pay more of its bills down, bolster scheduled pension contributions, and provide one-time tax relief under budget plans Gov. J.B. Pritzker laid out Wednesday. The state expects an additional $2.2 billion of revenue, about 5% of general funds, in fiscal 2022 and another $2 billion in

The two active municipal bond insurers wrapped $38.7 billion in 2021, an 8.7% increase from the $35.6 billion of deals done in 2020. It marks the highest level since 2009. The industry par amount was achieved in 2,151 deals, fewer than the 2,270 in 2020. Market demand for bond insurance increased steeply during the past

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said he would like to raise interest rates at the central bank’s meetings in March and May but played down the benefits of a larger-than-expected move. “Fifty basis points, I don’t think helps us — at least sitting here today, I don’t think that really helps

The University of Chicago won back stable rating outlooks as investment returns swelled last year and student-driven revenues bounce back with a return to campus. The selective private school’s enrollment levels and fundraising also weathered the COVID-19 pandemic, factors that have especially benefitted the ratings of higher-grade, private schools with healthy endowments and strong student

Municipals ended the month in the red but yields rose only a basis point or two on most triple-A scales on Monday while U.S. Treasuries were also softer and equities rallied hard. Triple-A benchmark yields rose slightly as did UST, keeping muni to UST ratios in a higher range. The municipal to UST ratio five-year

January municipal bond issuance declined 14.7% year-over-year led by a steep drop in taxable and refunding volumes amid extreme volatility and a rising-rate environment. Total January volume was $24.04 billion in 601 deals versus $28.18 billion in 801 issues a year earlier. New-money issuance was up 8.3% to $18.164 billion in 444 transactions from $16.776

The Puerto Rico Oversight Board has discussed completing the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority restructuring without a local law supporting it, since members of a Senate panel appear opposed to such legislation. The board reached preliminary terms with the bondholders on a Restructuring Support Agreement in spring 2019. As currently proposed, the Puerto Rico Senate

President Joe Biden Friday visited the site of a major Pittsburgh bridge that collapsed just hours before he was scheduled to visit the city to highlight his infrastructure spending plan. Looking at the 450-foot collapsed span, Biden pledged the White House would “fix them all,” referring to thousands of bridges needing investment nationally. “We’re sending

Michigan’s multi-billion dollar revenue windfall puts tax relief front and center for Democrats and Republicans alike as the legislative session and budget season heats up. While both sides of the aisle are pushing for tax cuts, the form they would take remains the subject of debate. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who is up for

Municipal yields rose double digits Friday bringing levels to highs not seen since early April 2020. The short end of triple-A scales has risen more than 30 basis points over the past five sessions on elevated selling pressure and overall market volatility. Triple-A yields rose by six to 10 basis points and ratios increased again

Credit unions and teachers’ associations separately filed notices of appeal of the court-approved Puerto Rico Plan of Adjustment Friday afternoon. The teachers’ associations will ask the appeals court to stay implementation of the plan, said Bufete Emmanuelli Partner Jessica Méndez Colberg. In the last week the Oversight Board said it was hoping the plan could

The two biggest U.S. banks raised their forecasts of how quickly the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates this year, with Bank of America Corp. predicting a move at every meeting to tackle the highest inflation in four decades. “We now look for seven 25 basis point hikes this year and a peak funds rate