Bonds

Municipals were weaker in spots in light trading Friday while U.S. Treasuries were weaker again on the short end on higher inflation reads. Equities rallied on a potential debt ceiling deal. “A slew of hot economic data points are keeping the bond market selloff going strong,” noted Edward Moya, senior market analyst at OANDA. The

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.

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

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

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

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

A financing plan for a multi-billion-dollar Austin light-rail project, already under attack in the Texas Legislature, now faces concerns about its legality raised by the state attorney general.  The controversy involves the Austin Transit Partnership, a corporation created by the city and Capital Metro Transportation Authority, and its ability to help finance the Project Connect

Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia on Thursday announced the recipients of $225 million of federal health and public facilities development grants funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The state selected142 projects from a crowded field of proposals submitted by local governments and nonprofit organizations as per federal regulation that would help “improve

Hoping to fill some of its 784 vacant positions, the Kansas state government held a virtual job fair last week that attracted 204 participants. “These are good-paying jobs with excellent benefits, and we look forward to finding high-quality candidates that are passionate about contributing their talents for the betterment of Kansas,” Lt. Gov. and Secretary

Muni yields climbed even higher to end the week, while U.S. Treasuries were weaker and equities ended down. Muni yields, after outperforming USTs the prior week, “have adjusted higher in a hurry this week in sympathy with the UST selloff,” said Barclays strategists Mikhail Foux, Clare Pickering and Mayur Patel. Triple-A benchmark yields rose four

Michigan trimmed its revenue estimates Friday to account for tax changes that carry a multi-billion-dollar price tag. The new projections could require roughly $600 million in reduced spending over what Gov. Gretchen Whitmer proposed earlier this year in the fiscal 2024 budget that would take effect Oct. 1. It relies on available revenue from what

The Kroll Bond Rating Agency upgraded Connecticut’s long-term general obligation rating to AA-plus from AA on Thursday. The upgraded rating continues Kroll’s stable outlook and reflected Connecticut’s “strong credit profile and significant and continuing progress in improving its financial position over the last six fiscal years,” the agency said. KBRA pointed in particular to the extension

Economic and interest rate uncertainties greet the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority’s planned sale of $257.9 million in water and sewer bonds as the authority mixes new money and refinancing in a deal with four distinct pieces. The deal is planned the week of June 4, according to an online “roadshow” presentation for investors. BofA

Prominent bond traders said appetite for restructured Puerto Rico bonds is high and the future will likely bring greater market acceptance. Puerto Rico’s local government, through its Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority, brought the five traders to talk about the bonds at its PRNow conference in New York City Friday. “There’s an enormous demand

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell gave a clear signal he is inclined to pausing interest-rate increases next month and said that tighter credit conditions could mean the policy peak will be lower. “We’ve come a long way in policy tightening and the stance of policy is restrictive and we face uncertainty about the lagged effects

California’s rating outlook was revised to negative from stable Thursday by Moody’s Investors Service amid the state’s revenue uncertainty. The rating agency also affirmed the Aa2 rating on the state’s general obligation bonds, citing the state’s massive economic base and healthy budget reserves and liquidity. The Aa2 rating on the state’s general obligation bonds is

California school districts are delaying projects or speeding them up to get ahead of accelerating prices as they contend with supply challenges and rising construction costs. “By and large, inflationary pressures on construction costs is where they are getting hit the worst,” said Blake Boehm, a managing director with KNN Public Finance, a municipal advisory

Short-term munis sold off Wednesday, as triple-A benchmarks rose in sympathy with U.S. Treasuries. Equities rallied. Muni yields rose seven to 12 basis points five years in, while USTs rose two to eight basis points. Performance-wise, Matthew Buscone, co-head of portfolio management at Breckinridge Capital Advisors, said the muni market has been soft this week.