Bonds

(Bloomberg) –The recent appointment of a prominent Democratic economist to lead the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is fueling friction over political partisanship in the US central bank. Austan Goolsbee became president of the Chicago Fed in January, but only after a contentious hiring process. Bloomberg News reported Feb. 17 that two of the Fed’s

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s reintroduction of a 2011-era rule proposal to ban conflicts of interest for sponsors of asset-backed securities could have wide implications for conduit borrowers and could raise borrowing and compliance costs for underwriters, municipal advisors and conduit issuers alike. The proposed rule would stop participants involved in securitization transactions from shorting

A plan for the owner of a senior living community in Plano, Texas, to emerge from bankruptcy faces a creditor vote this month, a confirmation hearing in April, and opposition from the trustee for nearly $66.8 million of defaulted revenue bonds. BSPV-Plano, LLC, a Texas limited liability company, filed the Chapter 11 case in the

Transcription: Chip Barnett (00:03):Hi, and welcome to The Bond Buyer. I’m Chip Barnett and my guest today is Ellis Phifer. He’s a managing director and senior strategist in the fixed income research department at Raymond James. He’s been actively involved in the fixed-income markets for over 25 years, split between fixed-income portfolio management and strategy

Economic indicators did little to move fixed-income Monday as municipals were slightly firmer to start off the week, while U.S. Treasuries were a little weaker. Equities ended mixed. Tuesday and Wednesday will bring testimony from Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome Powell and Friday will see the release of the February employment report. The market will

Unsteady leadership has challenged the financial stability of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, according to a state review of the town’s financial management that was recently made public. High turnover rates in key government positions over the last decade left the Cape Cod town of 4,035 without sustainable revenue streams and in need of fundamental reforms, the Division

Iowa-based UnityPoint Health and New Mexico-based Presbyterian Healthcare Services are exploring a merger that would create a system with $10 billion in revenues. The two signed a letter of intent to consider merging last week. Both systems will now pursue a deeper evaluation that could lead to a definitive agreement and regulatory approvals. Each would

Turmoil continues at an Idaho community college district where management dysfunction was a major factor in a February downgrade. A Kootenai County district judge ordered North Idaho College trustees to reinstate Nick Swayne, the college president they had placed on administrative leave in December. Tumult that put its accreditation in jeopardy was cited when Moody’s

The fiscal pounding hospitals took last year from labor and other pressures nearly erased the fiscal 2021 recovery for hospitals operating margins that have June 30 fiscal year ends, with the full and bleaker accounting of last year’s strains still to come, Fitch Ratings said. The not-for-profit hospital sector’s bruising margin wounds last year are well known

U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain voided a 2022 Puerto Rico labor law, a win for the Puerto Rico Oversight Board, and perhaps an important precedent, according to an analyst. The law, Act 41, does not comply with the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act because it was not submitted to the

The National Federation of Municipal Analysts has named Mark Capell, managing vice president of public finance for Build America Mutual’s West Region as its president for the 2023 year. The first bond insurer to serve as president of NFMA since Bill Hogan of Assured Guaranty’s 2009 term, Capell believes his experience in bond insurance gives

Legislatures in 32 states so far this year have introduced more than 150 transportation funding-related measures, with more expected as legislatures in all 50 states settle into their sessions. That’s according to the January and February roundup of state bills by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, which tracks transportation-related bills monthly through its

Texas is plowing ahead with a massive bond sale to recover extraordinary costs incurred by natural gas utilities during a fierce 2021 winter storm with a deal that allows for a redemption in the event the state’s overflowing coffers are tapped to ease the blow to customers who will be paying off the debt. The

Municipals were firmer in spots Friday, with pressure easing for short-end munis, ahead of a robust new-issue calendar where issuance tops $10 billion. U.S. Treasuries rallied out long, and equities ended up. Triple-A benchmark yields were bumped three to 12 basis points, depending on the scale, at one-year, while UST yields fell four to 13,

S&P Global Ratings on Friday revised the outlook on Reedy Creek Improvement District, Florida’s general obligation bonds to stable from developing. S&P also affirmed the AA-minus long-term rating on the district’s outstanding GOs, saying the rating reflects the strong tax base, very strong collection rates and consistent financial performance. “The outlook revision reflects recent state

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled his executive budget proposal for fiscal year 2024, a record $53.1 billion plan that takes into account the state’s expectation for a shallow and short recession by holding off on large new initiatives while boosting reserves and addressing long-term obligations. “This budget will better prepare New Jersey for any

Legislation seeking to end government contracts with companies engaged in “boycotting” an expanded list of industries and business policies passed the Utah House and Senate late Thursday. Senate Bill 97 builds on laws previously enacted in Texas and a few other states focusing on “boycotts” of the fossil fuel or firearm industries by adding timber,

New Mexico would authorize public-private partnerships on the state and local level under a bill unanimously approved by the state House Thursday and now headed to the Senate. The bill, House Bill 213, would allow P3s for transportation and broadband projects. “Those are two of the most pressing needs in the state,” said Rep. Cathrynn

The Federal Reserve said further interest-rate hikes would be required to restore price stability. “The committee is strongly committed to returning inflation to its 2% objective,” the Fed said in its semi-annual report to Congress released Friday. Officials expect “ongoing increases in the target range will be appropriate in order to attain a stance of

Fitch Ratings raised Miami-Dade County’s $4.9 billion of aviation revenue and revenue refunding bonds to A-plus from A after a year where Miami International Airport took the title of busiest airport in Florida. The bonds, issued for the Miami-Dade County Aviation Department, have a stable credit outlook. Fitch said MIA surpassed its pre-pandemic traffic high

States and cities trying to craft budgets to implement infrastructure projects have been stumped by requirements set in place by the Build America, Buy America Act, and the nation’s top transportation official is urging them to rise to the challenge. Passed as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the act requires that the