Bonds

Tennessee is betting nuclear energy will make a comeback. The state, which hosted labs that helped split the atom during World War II, has joined the race to develop and deploy the first commercial-grade variant of a scalable nuclear reactor that promises to provide an important piece of the nation’s green energy network. After appropriating

The Equity in Infrastructure Project has named Everett Lott, director of the District of Columbia’s Department of Transportation, as vice chair of the organization which is dedicated to boosting opportunities for Historically Underutilized Businesses.  “I know firsthand how increasing contracting opportunities for HUBs can change lives and communities for the better,” said Lott. “I am

Municipal bond investors are paying more attention to the credit risks posed by public pension and other retirement liabilities. Municipal finance officers should prepare to address those questions when they apply for bond ratings and sell new issues and may want to consider bond insurance or other forms of credit enhancement to help build investor

Cities and towns should take a hard look at the banks that hold their public funds in light of the recent turmoil in the bank industry. That was the message from panelists speaking Monday at the Government Finance Officers Association’s annual conference in Portland. “You might want to change up how you’re doing your banking,”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson won’t say yet whether he intends to leave in place his predecessor’s executive order earmarking a budget surplus for future supplemental pension contributions.   He also hasn’t committed to which of the tax proposals he advocated the campaign that brought him to the mayor’s office this month he will pursue first.

Municipals were weaker in the belly of the curve Thursday while U.S. Treasury yields sold off on the short end on Fed speak and continued concerns over the debt ceiling impasse. Equities were mixed near the close. Despite the rally in tech stocks, USTs and munis are reacting to uneven economic data and a potential

California lawmakers are betting voters have had a change of heart regarding the need for a statewide school bond measure. The state Senate approved on Wednesday a $15.5 billion school construction bond measure that would go before voters in March that is similar to the $15 billion Proposition 13, a failed school bond measure that

A fierce winter storm that hit several states more than two years ago is still churning out bond-related events, with a Texas utility refunding taxable tendered debt with tax-free bonds thanks to a private letter ruling, and an Oklahoma deal falling short on a debt service payment. Billions of dollars of debt has been sold

Siebert Williams Shank & Co. LLC has hired veteran public finance banker Nathan Flynn to establish a branch office in Indianapolis with an eye on broadening the firm’s coverage of borrowers in the Midwest and Southeast while also adding to the firm’s project finance and structuring chops. Flynn starts at the firm as a managing

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has fined Little Rock, Arkansas-based Crews and Associates $50,000 and its former head trader and chief executive Rush F. Harding $30,000 for their roles in selling municipal bonds with markups to an affiliated bank, with Harding having violated MSRB Rule G-18 on best execution and Rule G-17 on conduct and

Fitch Ratings has warned it may downgrade the United States’ AAA credit amid a worsening showdown over the country’s debt limit. The agency late Wednesday put the nation’s issuer default rating on rating watch negative. The warning comes as Washington has been unable to reach a deal to avoid breaching the nation’s $31.4 trillion debt limit,

Municipals were steady to weaker in spots Wednesday, while U.S. Treasury yields rose several basis points in conjunction with the release of the Federal Open Market Committee minutes that showed members split on whether interest rates will be raised further. Stocks sold off. After cuts up to 10 basis points Tuesday, triple-A yields were cut

Minnesota lawmakers ended their 2023 session after passing a two-year budget with new funding for schools and social services, a $2.6 billion capital package, and a tax package that raises some taxes and fees on top earners and corporations while providing rebates for others and paying off debt for the NFL Vikings’ stadium. The budget

The secondary market has yet to react to California’s negative outlook from Moody’s Investors Service, as credit spreads have generally tracked the recent market selloff. While Municipal Market Analytics acknowledged that California faces some economic headwinds, the firm was surprised at how quickly Moody’s revised the outlook after the governor’s May budget revisions were announced.

Cities and states may start to pause borrowing plans as the nation heads toward a breach of its debt limit as soon as next week. “If the debt ceiling is not raised, it’s going to be a brave new world,” said David Womack, deputy director at New York City’s Office of Management and Budget. “It

The Oklahoma Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging a turnpike extension plan while it weighs whether initial bonds to finance the $5 billion, 15-year project are valid. In an opinion Tuesday, the high court left intact a December decision by a Cleveland County District Court judge granting the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s motion

While most U.S. states came out of the pandemic in relatively good economic shape, some warning signs are starting to emerge as money flowing into state coffers starts to slow. Municipal bond issuers may see their revenue streams come under pressure from a variety of possible threats. Inflation obscured the impact of declining revenue in

S&P Global Ratings Services raised the city of Miami, Florida’s long-term and underlying ratings on its limited ad valorem bonds and non-ad valorem bonds to AA from AA-minus. The outlook is stable. “The upgrade reflects our view of Miami’s economic growth and income improvement, coupled with moderation of debt,” S&P said last week. “While everyone is

A ruling by federal officials that could make or break New Jersey’s first major offshore wind farm project is expected this summer. On Monday, the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management released its Final Environmental Impact Statement for the $1.6 billion Ocean Wind 1 project, a state-supported plan by Danish energy

Municipals resumed their selloff Tuesday, while U.S. Treasuries were slightly weaker and equities ended down as debt ceiling negotiations and Fed policy uncertainties hang over financial markets. Triple-A yields rose from two to five basis points on the one-year and up to 10 basis points across the rest of the curve. Municipal to UST ratios

The latest battle between the Puerto Rico Oversight Board and Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority bondholders came in filings this week in which the bondholders said the board’s stated “obstacles” to collections have nothing to do with what they are owed. The board, in turn, said the bondholders’ arguments are “erroneous.” In filings late Monday,