Bonds

The municipal bond market shrank, retail continues to access it, and broker-dealer holdings have grown, the latest Federal Reserve data show. Fed data show the outstanding universe of munis shrinking in the third quarter in terms of both par basis and market value, said Matt Fabian, a partner at Municipal Market Analytics. The value of

The Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project has been awarded $1.6 billion in federal funding grants, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday. The approval of the funds will let the improvement project move into the construction phase in 2023. Kentucky and Ohio were seeking the grants under the Infrastructure Investment and

The U.S. Virgin Islands would privatize its only two airports under a process launched Thursday that would mark the second long-term lease for a U.S.-based airport asset. The Virgin Islands Port Authority Thursday released an RFQ outlining a relatively fast-paced process that aims to select a final team by the end of 2023 with groundbreaking

Against the backdrop of a persistent drought, Arizona made an initial move toward the possibility of piping desalinated water from the Gulf of California in Mexico to the land-locked state’s growing population. The Arizona Water Infrastructure Finance Authority approved a resolution Dec. 20 allowing the agency to evaluate a proposal from Israel-based IDE Technologies that envisions

Municipals finished out the last trading day of the year little changed in an abbreviated session that saw Treasury yields rise and equity prices fall. “Bond investors bid a not-so-fond farewell to 2022 as they look forward to a much more attractive 2023,” said Bryce Doty, senior vice president at Sit Investment Associates. The markets

Total 2022 municipal bond sale volume plunged 21% from 2021, as issuers were flush with cash and rising interest rates stymied refundings and taxable issuances. December municipal bond issuance, at $17.165 billion, also disappointed, dropping 58.1% from the same period a year earlier. The muni market saw $384.086 billion of debt issued in 2022, nearly

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Finance Abuse Unit’s recent and relatively novel pursuit of firms accused of violating the limited offering exemption has securities lawyers expecting more focus on that area in the coming year, even likening it to one of the most significant muni enforcement initiatives of the past decade. In September, the

Municipals were weaker in spots Thursday as outflows from mutual funds lessened. U.S. Treasuries were firmer five years and out and equities rallied. The three-year muni-UST ratio was at 60%, the five-year at 64%, the 10-year at 68% and the 30-year at 91%, according to Refinitiv MMD’s 3 p.m. read. ICE Data Services had the

Public infrastructure will glide into 2023 supported by massive federal aid, but the rising cost of projects could trip up the country’s national rebuilding plan. Macroeconomic uncertainties like material prices, labor shortages, high interest rates and slowing economic growth may make capital financing more expensive. And that may prompt cautious local and state leaders, who

Municipals were weaker in spots Wednesday as outflows from mutual funds continued. U.S. Treasuries were mixed and equities ended down. Triple-A benchmark yields were cut up to five basis points, depending on the scale, while UST yields fell up to five basis points out long. The three-year muni-UST ratio was at 60%, the five-year at

The changing year will ring in the 118th U.S. Congress while also bringing policy changes and legal challenges to the muni market. Despite the uncertainty, there are strains of optimism emerging among some industry leaders. Hope is still alive for the eventual return of advance refundings, even if it may be a longshot. Other priorities have

Municipals were weaker Tuesday, outperforming a U.S. Treasury sell-off, while equities were mixed. Municipals were cut up to six basis points, depending on the scale, while UST yields rose as much as 12 basis points. Muni-UST ratios were steady Tuesday. The three-year muni-UST ratio was at 59%, the five-year at 64%, the 10-year at 67%

The 2023 rulemaking agenda for both the Securities and Exchange Commission and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board will be dominated by pre-trade, post-trade, and time of trade regulations and the complications involved in the Commission adopting its own best execution rule. SEC Chair Gary Gensler has altogether 35 proposed rulemakings outstanding across equity and fixed income

The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board approved a $19.2 billion budget for 2023 and a four-year financial plan. The budget includes a 5.5% fare increase for next year and envisions a 4% increase in 2025. “I’ve been talking about the financial crisis facing the MTA for many months,” MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said

Abundant oil and natural gas taxes are pouring into New Mexico’s general fund, boosting revenue projections and sparking concerns over the fiscal impact of a future downturn in the state’s fossil fuel industry.  The state’s latest consensus forecast lifted general fund revenue for fiscal 2023, which began July 1, $928 million above an August forecast

The Puerto Rico Oversight Board defended its latest actions in the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority bankruptcy and rejected bondholder and unsecured creditor challenges to its proposals. The urgent motion filed Dec. 16 was “purely administrative in nature,” requesting the scheduling of a disclosure statement hearing, deadlines for briefing on the disclosure statement and the

Georgia backers of an economic development deal with electric automaker Rivian are meeting continued resistance from a group of residents suing to stop its planned factory. In October, a county judge denied validation of the up to $15 billion in payment in lieu of taxes revenue bonds planned as part of the incentive structure for

Municipals were steady Friday ahead of a week with no new deals slated. U.S. Treasuries sold off out long and equities were up near the end of the session. Muni-UST ratios were steady Friday. The three-year muni-UST ratio was at 60%, the five-year at 64%, the 10-year at 68% and the 30-year at 92%, according

Municipals were weaker in spots Wednesday as outflows from mutual funds intensified. U.S. Treasury yields fell, and equities ended higher. The three-year muni-UST ratio was at 62%, the five-year at 66%, the 10-year at 69% and the 30-year at 93%, according to Refinitiv MMD’s 3 p.m. read. ICE Data Services had the three at 63%,

PNC Capital Markets has been added to the newly-formed list of underwriters who failed to meet the exemption requirements in connection with 36 limited offerings in violation of Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 15c2-12 and Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board Rule G-27 on supervision. Without admitting or denying the findings, PNC agreed to be censured and

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., introduced legislation Wednesday that would eliminate more than half of the regional Federal Reserve banks and subject the remaining banks to additional federal rules and restrictions. The bill, titled the Federal Reserve Accountability Act, would reduce the number of regional Federal Reserve banks from 12 to five; require bank presidents to