Bonds

Fiscal 2022 brought robust revenue growth for Texas and other Southwest states, leading to record budget balances and calls for tax cuts. State coffers across the United States benefited as increased prices for goods and services boosted sales tax collections, while rising wages and employment lifted income tax revenue. Preliminary data from 45 states showed

Municipals were steady Friday ahead of a new-issue calendar next week at $6.6 billion, while U.S. Treasuries were weaker five years and in and equities rallied. “While the U.S. economic data remain relatively strong, this hawkish tone continues to put pressure on Treasury rates, which have moved higher by 10-15 basis points this week, more so

The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and opponents of its plan to build bond-financed extensions will square off on Tuesday at a hearing set by the state Supreme Court. In its Aug. 10 petition to validate $500 million of second senior lien revenue bonds, OTA asked the Supreme Court to accept original jurisdiction for two lawsuits opponents

A federal judge is weighing whether to dismiss the charges against Capital Market Advisors, which was municipal advisor to the City of Rochester, New York and was charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission for misleading investors and breaching its fiduciary duty in connection with a 2019 bond offering. Lawyers who preferred not to be

The Inflation Reduction Act offers a crutch, if not exactly a lifeline, to operating nuclear plants, a sector long plagued with high debt and fixed costs that may now be poised for a rebound thanks to national clean-energy goals. The IRA, which President Biden signed into law Aug. 16, provides $30 billion in production tax

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said he favors “another significant” increase in interest rates when the central bank meets later this month, signaling his backing for a 75 basis-point move. “Inflation is far too high, and it is too soon to say whether inflation is moving meaningfully and persistently downward,” Waller said in the text

With a round of rating upgrades in hand, Illinois will hold an in-person and remote meeting with investors later this month to promote its fiscal progress ahead of its next bond sale. “The state of Illinois intends to hold an investor meeting on Wednesday, September 21st, in advance of an anticipated $700 million competitive general

Fitch Ratings lifted Ohio’s issuer default and general obligation rating to AAA Thursday over its “fiscal resilience” bolstered by stronger reserves and cash balances. Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings rate Ohio one notch below the top mark at Aa1 and AA-plus, respectively, and both assign a stable outlook. The upgrade “reflects material strengthening

The North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) will head to the municipal market next week with a $667 million tax-exempt revenue refunding bond issue after receiving a rating upgrade from S&P Global Ratings and a positive outlook from Moody’s Investors Service. Horatio Porter, NTTA’s chief financial officer, said the tollway has rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic,

Cook County, Illinois, extended the deadline by one week for eligible local governments to participate in a $300 million borrowing program that provides no-interest loans to manage a months-long delay in second installment property tax collections. The bridge loan program announced in July will spare suburban taxing bodies from having to issue tax anticipation notes

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association announced Wednesday that Saima S. Ahmed has been appointed executive vice president and general counsel of the organization, a key legal position for one of the muni industry’s leading advocacy groups. She will be leading a team of lawyers focused on compliance, litigation, and regulatory issues while overseeing

Municipals were weaker to kick off the holiday-shortened week, but outperformed a U.S. Treasury selloff that saw the 30-year UST yield hit just shy of 3.5%, while equities saw losses. Triple-A benchmark yields rose up to seven basis points, while UST yields rose 11 to 15 bps with the largest losses on the long bonds,

The Puerto Rico economic activity index has fallen three of the past four months on a month-to-month basis but remains above year-ago levels. The Puerto Rico Economic Development Bank said July’s index reading of 124.2 was down 0.1% from June and 1.1% from the March reading of 125.6, which was the highest since COVID-19 hit

An Alabama ballot measure would allow local governments to use voter-approved special tax authority that is now reserved for bonds to finance projects on a pay-as-you-go basis. Amendment 6 is one of twelve proposed changes to the state constitution voters will decide Nov. 8. Backers said it would give municipal officials the option to finance

Municipals were steady Friday ahead of a holiday-shortened week where investors will be greeted by two large deals from the states of California and Pennsylvania in an otherwise lackluster new-issue calendar. U.S. Treasuries rallied on the front end of the curve. On Friday the two- and three-year muni-UST ratios are around 67%. The five-year was

The Puerto Rico Oversight Board filed suit against Gov. Pedro Pierluisi regarding a labor law it says reduces the island’s economic growth and government revenues. The board is challenging Act 41-2022, which Pierluisi signed earlier this summer. It filed the suit Thursday night in U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico as part of the central

What should be a full pipeline of national projects supported by an influx of federal infrastructure funds is being stymied by a “severe” labor shortage in the construction sector, and government on all levels need to do more to address the problem. That’s the message from the Associated General Contractors of America on the heels

Oregon economists predicted both moderate revenue growth and the possibility of a recession during their September forecast. Economists told lawmakers this week that either way the heady days of overflowing coffers are over. Under the rosier outlook, residents get that kicker rebate if the state forecast of $600 million more revenues than what was forecast

The encroachment of culture wars into the municipal bond market will likely increase, with Texas, which has enacted laws to punish companies for “boycotting” fossil fuel businesses and “discriminating” against the firearm industry, potentially leading the charge.  The laws have sidelined some big Wall Street banks from the Texas muni market; the state’s recently compiled

Sunita Lough, the respected head of the Internal Revenue Service’s Tax-Exempt and Government Entities division, is stepping down at the end of this month. Lough was serving as the commissioner of its Tax-Exempt and Government Entities division, which oversees compliance with municipal bond tax laws. Her official retirement date is scheduled for Sept. 30. Edward

Municipals sold off 10 years and out Thursday with triple-A benchmark yields rising up to double-digits on the long end as municipal bond mutual fund outflows increased nearly threefold from the week before to top $3.4 billion. U.S. Treasuries were weaker and equities were mixed. Triple-A benchmarks rose seven to 12 basis points 10 years