Bonds

David Hitchcock, who just celebrated 43 years at S&P Global Ratings, retired on Friday. Talking with The Bond Buyer on his last day, Hitchcock said he thought he made a positive difference in the municipal bond industry over the past four decades. “I hope I’ve done some good in the world, at least in terms

Las Vegas, Nevada, had its issuer default rating upgraded to AA from AA-minus by Fitch Ratings, which cited favorable visitor trends, healthier-than-anticipated revenues and federal aid. A stable ratings outlook has been assigned. The upgrade affects the series 2004 limited tax general obligation bonds issued by the Las Vegas Special Improvement District. The special improvement

As it approaches a deadline on a state-backed incentive package, electric automaker Rivian faces fresh legal headaches in its plans for a $5 billion production plant in rural Georgia. A deal negotiated between Rivian, the Georgia Economic Development Commission, and the Joint Development Authority for Jasper, Morgan, Newton, and Walton Counties, with the blessing of

The rate of capture of sales and use taxes supporting the Puerto Rico Sales Tax Financing Corp. (COFINA) bonds has improved, the Puerto Rico Treasury Department said. The collection rate compared to the legally liable amount was 77% in fiscal 2022, a study by the Treasury’s Office of Economic and Financial Affairs showed. That compared

Municipals were steady throughout most of the curve ahead of a new-issue calendar of $6 billion. U.S. Treasuries were firmer and equities were mixed. “Investors’ jitters in the lead up to next week’s Fed meeting resulted in some large macro market moves and a rise in volatility,” noted BofA Securities strategists in a weekly report.

Indianapolis Public Schools and at least 30 Michigan school district voters will decide Tuesday the fate of more than $2.5 billion worth of borrowing for infrastructure work, new schools, and safety-related projects. Indianapolis Public Schools seeks $410 million for projects throughout the district with 23 schools in line for improvements. The borrowing would help pay

A California appellate court Thursday resurrected a lawsuit accusing prominent Wall Street banks of conspiring to manipulate the variable-rate debt market. The 1st District Court of Appeal reversed a lower court ruling less than two days after hearing arguments in the case, which dates back nearly 10 years. It’s the latest turn in a series

Record state spending on California’s K-12 education will enable schools to retain stable credit quality despite a several-year drop in enrollment, Fitch Ratings said. The state’s schools experienced their sixth year of declining enrollment in fiscal 2023, dropping below 6 million students for the first time in 20 years, said Fitch’s report, released Thursday. The

Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson named a transition committee and subcommittee leadership Thursday that draws from members of the city’s business, activist, and governmental communities to help shape his administration’s strategies and priorities. Johnson charged the group with crafting a written report in the coming week to guide the administration that takes office May 15th. “We

Municipals were weaker across the curve Thursday with the largest cuts seen on the front end, but outperformed a U.S. Treasury selloff following economic data that showed the growth in the U.S. economy slowed in the first quarter. Equities ended up. Triple-A yields rose as much as eight basis points on the two-year while UST

Municipals were steady in secondary trading Wednesday as the competitive market saw the states of Washington and Delaware price large general obligation bond deals. U.S. Treasuries were weaker in most spots and equities ended mixed. The two-year muni-Treasury ratio Monday was at 66%, the three-year at 68%, the five-year at 68%, the 10-year at 68%

Walt Disney Co. sued Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, alleging he’s threatening billions of dollars in business as retaliation for the company speaking against his policies. The lawsuit Disney filed Wednesday in federal court in Florida came amid an escalating dispute over the powers of the municipal authority that governs Florida theme parks ahead of a

The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority heads into the market this week with $500 million of new money debt that leaves just another $1.5 billion of borrowing still to come for its$14.8 billion capital program. The fixed-rate bonds will sell Wednesday, according to tollway officials. Proceeds will fund upgrades and expansion projects in the Move

Municipals were mixed Tuesday with most AAA scales showing large cuts on the front end and smaller bumps out long. U.S. Treasuries rallied hard, and equities sold off. The two-year muni-Treasury ratio Monday was at 66%, the three-year at 69%, the five-year at 68%, the 10-year at 69% and the 30-year at 92%, according to

Municipals were mixed to start the week as participants await a $7 billion-plus new-issue calendar, while U.S. Treasuries were firmer and equities were mixed. The two-year muni-Treasury ratio Monday was at 62%, the three-year at 64%, the five-year at 65%, the 10-year at 67% and the 30-year at 91%, according to Refinitiv MMD’s 3 p.m.

It’s been slim pickings so far this year in the high-yield municipal market, with investors turning to a handful of prominent credits — restructured Puerto Rico debt, prepay gas bonds, tobacco paper — while continuing to shun troubled sectors like senior living. The story in the high-yield space follows the larger $4.1 trillion muni market,

The Puerto Rico Oversight Board and other parties are still trying to determine how District Court Judge Judge Laura Taylor Swain’s March ruling in the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority bankruptcy will affect the bondholders’ payout, Puerto Rico Oversight Board Chair David Skeel said Friday. “The implications for the claim that the bondholders have is

Municipals were steady throughout most of the curve, though the front end did see smaller cuts on Friday to close out week that saw a significant correction for the asset class, while U.S. Treasuries were weaker, and equities ended down. It was too-rich ratios, too much outperformance to taxables and too much supply this week

A so-called “fix” for Chicago’s “Tier 2” firefighters to ensure benefits meet federal requirements carries a $350 million price tag. That’s what officials told a House committee that moved the bill forward over the city’s objections. And a police “fix” carries a more burdensome toll of at least $1 billion, sources said. “The city of

Fresh off two ratings upgrades this month, Nassau County, New York, is set to issue $269.54 million of general obligation bonds in two separate sales in the upcoming week. First, J.P. Morgan Securities will price the county’s $114.86 million of Series 2023B (Aa3/AA-minus/A-plus/NR) general improvement refunding GOs on Tuesday. On Thursday, the county will competitively