Bonds

Municipal and U.S. Treasury markets improved Friday after a weak jobs report sent investors fleeing equities in a flight-to-quality trade. While the employment report did not settle the 25 or 50 basis point rate cut argument, economists said, it did cause the UST 2s/10s to de-invert.  “While stocks are selling off, we are witnessing a

Speaking Thursday to the Economic Club of New York, former President Donald Trump proposed the creation of a U.S. sovereign wealth fund to pay for infrastructure projects. “We’ll create America’s own sovereign wealth fund to invest in great national endeavors for the benefit of all of the American people,” Trump said. “Why don’t we have

The Jackson Hospital & Clinic in Montgomery, Alabama, has named a chief restructuring officer in the aftermath of a bond payment default. Allen Wilen, partner at Eisner Advisory Group, will be the chief restructuring officer bond trustee UMB Bank, N.A., announced Thursday after the hospital failed to make a bond payment Tuesday. UMB believes there

The employment report did not settle the 25 or 50 basis point rate cut argument, economists said, as it offered a mixed bag, with lower-than-expected jobs added and downward revisions to previous months’ numbers, while earnings grew and the unemployment rate dipped. Nonfarm payrolls rose 142,000 in August, less than the 165,000 expected, while the

The judge overseeing the bankruptcy for Puerto Rico’s government-owned electric utility continued a pause on litigation related to the case as the power provider and its creditors negotiate a possible debt-cutting deal.  U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain extended for an additional 30 days the litigation stay through Oct. 8 and ordered the parties

Siebert Williams Shank has brought on Lori Ciraolo to further strengthen its taxable fixed-income team. Ciraolo, who spent more than 17 years at Goldman Sachs, has been hired as a senior vice president in corporate and municipal short-term securities to help expand SWS’ taxable muni franchise through commercial paper trading. “It’s a hybrid role between

Municipals were slightly firmer Thursday amid another busy day in the primary market, which saw a $1.1 billion deal from the North Texas Tollway Authority price and $850 million of general obligation bonds from Massachusetts sold in the competitive market. U.S. Treasury yields fell and equities were mixed. The two-year muni-to-Treasury ratio Thursday was at

One third of bridges in the U.S. need to be repaired or replaced. But federal infrastructure dollars are helping states chip away at that number, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s latest annual bridge report. “‘Slow and steady’ describes ongoing state efforts to reduce the number of bridges in poor condition (“structurally

South Dakota voters will determine the fate of Initiated Measure 28, which would eliminate the state sales tax on groceries. Illinois, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Utah, Tennessee, Alabama and Virginia have eliminated or reduced this tax, according to the Urban Institute Tax Policy Center.  “Grocery taxes are regarded as a regressive form of taxes, and cutting

New Hampshire faces questions familiar to many states: whether it’s funding schools enough and whether its method of funding is acceptable.  But the state’s hostility toward creating statewide income or sales taxes and legal precedents add some wrinkles. Challenges to the state’s education funding worked their way through the courts until a Superior Court judge

Municipals were little changed to firmer in spots Tuesday as U.S. Treasury yields fell while equities sold off to start September. “With August now behind us, munis continued the summer rally with [the month] returning 0.79%, pushing year-to-date gains to 1.30%,” said Jason Wong, vice president of municipals at AmeriVet Securities. This marked the first

The outlook on Memphis Light, Gas & Water’s AAA water system revenue bonds was lowered to negative from stable by S&P Global Ratings. “The outlook revision reflects our view of the water system’s accelerating near-term capital needs, which could pressure debt service coverage and liquidity before the next multiyear rate plan is adopted, with current

Municipals were little changed Friday ahead of the holiday weekend as U.S. Treasuries lost ground while stocks rallied. Triple-A yields closed the week little changed while USTs saw yields rise three to five basis points. The two-year muni-to-Treasury ratio Friday was at 63%, the three-year at 64%, the five-year at 65%, the 10-year at 69%

The South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank’s revenue bonds were upgraded to Aa2 from Aa3 by Moody’s Ratings, following a change in the rating agency’s methodology. It was one of 225 credits Moody’s placed on review for possible upgrade July 25 when it released a revised rating methodology for “certain debt instruments supported by a pledge

Fitch Ratings revised the outlook to positive from negative on $1.2 billion in private-activity bonds issued to pay for Los Angeles World Airport’s people mover project. Fitch also affirmed the BB-plus rating on the two series of senior lien revenue bonds issued through the California Municipal Finance Authority for LINXS, the consortium of private companies

August saw an increase in supply for the eighth consecutive month as pent-up demand and front-loaded issuance led issuers to tap the capital markets, leading to the highest monthly total volume for August on record. August’s volume reached $49.174 billion in 873 issues, up 25% from $39.33 billion in 827 issues in 2023. August’s total

Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell said in a speech in Jackson Hole, Wyo., in August that inflation has been cooling to the point where the central bank is willing to cut the Federal Funds Rate for the first time in four years. Bloomberg News Inflation continued to show signs of easing in the Federal Reserve’s

A proposal to help solve California’s property insurance crisis would tap the bond markets and could involve billions of dollars in debt issuance. The debt would be issued through the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank. Assembly Bill 2996 authored by Assemblymember David Alvarez, D-San Diego, would help stabilize the insurance marketplace by bolstering the

A business group filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging the constitutionality of a 2021 Texas law that punishes banks and other financial firms for “boycotting” the fossil fuel industry. The case, brought by the American Sustainable Business Council against Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar and Attorney General Ken Paxton in federal court in Austin, claims the law

Municipals were little changed while U.S. Treasury yields rose and equities ended mixed. Municipal bond mutual funds saw inflows as investors added $1.047 billion to funds after $512.9 million of inflows the week prior, according to LSEG Lipper. This marks nine straight weeks of inflows. <img src=”https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/19228117/thumbnail” width=”100%” alt=”chart visualization” /> High-yield continued to show