Bonds

Every state in the Midwest has clean water and drinking water financing programs designed to help municipalities build infrastructure for safe water. But there are signs that those financing mechanisms may face greater strain in the years ahead.  Already, citing “historically high requests for financial assistance,” Wisconsin has capped applications to its Clean Water Fund

Municipals were little changed Tuesday outside of bumps on the front end, as U.S. Treasury yields rose slightly and equities ended mixed. The two-year muni-to-Treasury ratio Tuesday was at 65%, the three-year at 66%, the five-year at 67%, the 10-year at 66% and the 30-year at 83%, according to Refinitiv Municipal Market Data’s 3 p.m.

Timothy McGregor has joined Chicago-based Riverbend Capital Advisors as managing partner. He will oversee the shaping and execution of investment strategies as well as manage client portfolios and contribute to the firm’s business development. “Riverbend is really a firm that believes in treating each client specifically, on an individual basis, to meet their needs —

The Biden administration awarded $504 million in grants last week to a dozen tech hubs across the country to scale up the production of critical technologies and create jobs in innovative industries. The tech hubs are part of a push by the administration to accelerate domestic growth in industries such as biomanufacturing, clean energy, artificial

In November 2023, when municipal bonds for the New Terminal One project at John F. Kennedy International Airport first came to market, the project’s team invited investors to look at the construction site. The steel frame of the terminal thrust out of the dirt. Construction workers were installing utility pipes underground. The investors could hear

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is issuing $625.4 million of second lien dedicated revenue bonds by negotiated sale July 8, which should yield an enthusiastic market response.    “As the interest on the bonds will be exempt in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, I expect strong interest from in-state buyers,” said Patrick Luby, head of Municipals,

Parties in the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority bankruptcy showed themselves to be further apart than ever before, with the Oversight Board offering little beyond the current plan’s 4% recovery for non-settling bond parties and some bond parties suggesting they should get 100% of what they say is at least an $8.5 billion claim and

The Illinois state comptroller reported a 55% year-over-year increase in the end-of-year general revenue fund cash balance as her office paid the state’s bills in a timely manner, a departure from recent years when the state’s unpaid bill backlogs topped $10 billion. Illinois ended the fiscal year with a $1.7 billion balance in the general

Fitch Ratings affirmed Los Angeles International Airport’s AA rating and stable outlook despite ongoing delays on its automated people mover. The airport’s AA issuer rating reflects “LAX’s superior credit characteristics, including a strong underlying air trade service area, significant operational activity supported by a diverse mix of domestic and foreign-flag carriers, favorable rate agreements with

Municipals were slightly firmer, underperforming U.S. Treasuries, which saw gains up to 10 basis points on the short end, after a better-than-expected jobs report kept a Federal Reserve rate cut in September in play. Equities ended up. While the numbers still suggest a healthy labor market, “this report absolutely keeps the probability of a September

California’s presidential election ballot in November will include $20 billion dollars of statewide bond measures, with $20 billion more in one regional bond election. At the state level, lawmakers reached agreements last week on two $10 billion general obligation bond measures that were heading toward approval in floor votes this week. The measures were put

Reinvestment demand will remain strong in July, as large redemptions will support technicals and lead to positive returns. June saw $42.4 billion of redemptions, the highest redemption figure since August 2023, helped the muni market as new-issue buying last month was “pretty strong,” said Pat Luby, head of municipal strategy at CreditSights. Net supply for

California’s controversial high-speed rail project cleared a major milestone Thursday when the authority overseeing the project approved final environmental clearance for the final, and possibly the most challenging, segment of the route. The California High-Speed Rail Authority’s approval of a Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement during a two-day meeting last week marked the last

Municipals were a tad firmer ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, as U.S. Treasury yields fell and equities ended mixed. The Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes released after the early market close signaled the Fed is in no hurry to cut rates. FOMC members saw inflation “diminishing” but still needed more evidence it

When the west abutment on Minnesota’s Rapidan Dam partially failed last week, officials initially feared a total collapse.  The dam did not collapse, but storms caused water to overflow it, debris to clog parts of it and the flood flows to ultimately generate so much erosion that waters ultimately went around the dam. For days,

Municipals were steady Tuesday as U.S. Treasury yields fell and equities ended higher. The muni market will see few deals this week as issuers usually “take a breather” on coming to market during holiday-shortened weeks, noted senior vice president and director of strategic planning and fixed income research at SWBC Chris Brigati. Along with the

Michigan’s $82.5 billion fiscal 2025 budget — which Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is expected to sign — includes investments in roads and bridges financed by the $700 million final tranche of Rebuilding Michigan Plan bonds, which will be issued later this year. According to a press release from the governor’s office, projects funded by the bonds

Municipals were slightly weaker Monday but outperformed U.S. Treasuries, which saw larger losses 10 years and out, while equities ended up. Triple-A yields rose one to five basis points, depending on the curve, while UST yields rose up to 14. The two-year muni-to-Treasury ratio Monday was at 65%, the three-year at 65%, the five-year at

Pausing congestion pricing may be even more destructive than the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority predicted, according to a presentation at its board meeting last week.  The agency cannot afford to cover all basic maintenance, and must shelve any new upgrades or expansions until it finds $16.5 billion in revenue, the presentation said. The system

The Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority (CECFA) created a non-profit subsidiary for its bond-financed purchase of a historic hotel that inspired Stephen King’s The Shining.  The authority’s board on Wednesday passed a resolution to form the Stanley Partnership for Art, Culture, and Education, LLC, to facilitate the financing, ownership, and operation of the Stanley