S&P Global Ratings’ seven-notch downgrade of a Chicago suburb’s full faith and credit pledge over default events on unrated revenue bonds casts a spotlight on management and governance factors and the risks they pose to the value of general obligation bonds. The issue has captured the attention of market participants with Fitch Ratings, which does
Bonds
President Biden on Tuesday urged county officials to put federal stimulus dollars to work investing in affordable housing among other things, while also touting his tax policy and infrastructure accomplishments. Biden made his comments at the National Association of Counties conference in Washington. Biden is fresh off a well-received State of the Union Address in
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has fined Quint Capital Corporation $35,000 and its chief executive officer Alexander Quint $10,000 for their role in allowing a broker banned by regulators to work for the firm on 25 municipal securities transactions. Without admitting or denying the findings, QCC agreed to the fine and a censure and Quint
Spline Data, a quantitative municipal bond data provider, has launched a product to give the muni market data-driven, actionable yield curves. The company’s investment-grade, fixed coupon municipal bond curves aim to use every trade, in contrast to the current municipal market pricing tools, which often reflect only round lots— about 5% of trades — according
The reduction in reserves for the Texas Permanent School Fund’s bond guarantee program does not impact the program’s triple-A ratings, according to rating analysts. The PSF disclosed Monday the Texas Board of Education took action earlier this month to lower the program’s reserves to 0.25% from 5% to help increase the availability of the guarantee
The California Chamber of Commerce is opposing a state Senate bill backed by the governor that would cap oil refinery profits and financially penalize companies for reaping excessive profits. Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, introduced SBX1 2 in December. The bill creates a system of enacting penalties, a concept first proposed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who
Federal Reserve Vice Chair Lael Brainard’s pending departure to the White House has spurred speculation over who would replace the influential dove as policymakers weigh how much further to raise interest rates. President Joe Biden, who named Brainard as the new head of the National Economic Council on Tuesday, may be nowhere near deciding whom
Former Pittsburgh-based banker Maurice “Mossie” Murphy Jr. moved on from the public finance business more than decade ago but he left his mark on colleagues who said his big personality, camaraderie, and support stood out in their competitive field. Murphy died in December after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 58. Murphy joined the
Municipals were weaker Tuesday, while USTs saw yields rise and equities ended mixed after a hotter-than-expected consumer price index report showed inflation may take longer to combat, and require higher rates, than the Federal Reserve planned. Triple-A benchmarks were cut one to six basis points, depending on the scale, while UST yields rose nine to
Detroit revenues remain on an upward trajectory thanks to healthier income and utility tax prospects, but clouds loom over the toll of a potential recession and longer-term pressures lie ahead as pension contributions resume. Revenue and economic projections offered good near-term news, leading the city’s revenue estimating conference to raise recurring revenues expected in the
Federal Reserve officials stressed the need for further interest-rate increases to help tame inflation, but expressed differing views about how close they are to stopping after new data showed signs of persistent price pressures. Two officials said Tuesday that interest rates may need to move to a higher level than anticipated to ensure inflation continues
The Puerto Rico Oversight Board defended its proposed Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority disclosure statement in a filing following bondholder attacks. Earlier this month the Ad Hoc Group of PREPA Bondholders and bond insurer Syncora Guarantee separately filed criticisms of the disclosure statement the board submitted in December along with a proposed plan of adjustment
Midwest municipal bond sales slid by 17.4% in 2022 to $65.3 billion from $79 billion a year earlier as issuers soured on borrowing amid rising interest rates and a rockier market. The region fared slightly better than the overall national decline of 19.5% to $389.1 billion as issuers confronted rising interest rates and mutual fund
The value of contract awards spiked by a record 25% last year as federal infrastructure funds began to flow to state and local governments. The American Road & Transportation Builders Association, which tracks monthly data on the value of state and local government contract awards, said the 25% increase in calendar 2022 marked the largest
Post-COVID turnover in the state and local workforce, including elevated numbers of retirements and resignations, is forcing municipal bond analysts to rethink their assessment of pension risk — the possibility that pension and other postemployment benefit costs grow so much that they impair a bond issuer’s ability to pay its debts. Pension actuaries use assumptions
Kathryn “Kasey” O’Connor, executive director of the California Hope, Opportunity, Perseverance, and Empowerment (HOPE) for Children Trust Account Program, was awarded the 2022 Chris Allen Memorial Award for Outstanding Advocacy in Public Finance from the National Association of State Treasurers. California Treasurer Fiona Ma nominated O’ Connor for her advocacy of federal legislative issues while
Wells Fargo & Co. has named Julie Burger and Mark Burns as co-heads of their public finance division, the firm announced on Monday. They will report to Chuck Peck, head of Wells Fargo’s municipal products group, effective Feb. 27. Peter Cannava, current head of public finance, will become the leader of multifamily capital in Wells
Municipals were weaker in spots Monday as they face difficult technicals, while U.S. Treasuries were firmer five years and out and equities rallied. The three-year muni-UST ratio was at 52%, the five-year at 54%, the 10-year at 60% and the 30-year at 87%, according to Refinitiv MMD’s 3 p.m. ET read. ICE Data Services had
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation cementing a Cook County Forest Preserve District pension funding overhaul that rescues the fund from looming insolvency. Lawmakers approved House Bill 1859 amending the state pension code’s article relating to the district during their lame-duck session last month. The legislation, signed by Pritzker Friday, takes effect June 1.
State treasurers gathered for a major conference in Washington Monday expressed concerns about the contentious Federal Data Transparency Act that became law last year. A panel discussion exploring that and other important topics in public finance occurred at the National Association of State Treasurers conference, and was moderated by Rachel Eubanks, the Michigan state treasurer.
The tax revamp in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would become permanent under a bill with heavy Republican support introduced Monday. Florida Republican Rep. Vern Buchanan, vice-chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, on Monday re-introduced the TCJA Permanency Act, which he originally filed last September during the Democratic-controlled 117th Congress. The