Bonds

Los Angeles Controller Ron Galperin gave a “still needs improvement” rating to the city’s efforts to put a $1.2 billion bond authorization for affordable housing to work. The city spent $870,000 per unit on one project and if it doesn’t rein in costs, the per unit price could soar to $900,000 or $1 million, Galperin

Municipal triple-A yields rose three to four basis points on Friday, losing up to half the gains they made Thursday, as U.S. Treasuries saw losses throughout the day but ended flat. Equities rallied hard after the European Union imposed sanctions on Russia and the U.S. indicated it would follow suit. Municipals had a hard time

Nevada has doubled down on housing efforts with a $500 million “Home Means Nevada” initiative and the dedication of the majority of its private activity bond authority to affordable housing. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak announced plans to tap federal funds for the housing initiative during an off-cycle State of the State speech delivered Wednesday at

Municipals rallied Thursday on a flight-to-safety bid after Russian troops invaded Ukraine, outperforming U.S. Treasuries while equities reversed major losses to end in the black. Triple-A yields were bumped from five to 10 basis points across the curves, while UST yields saw earlier double-digit gains fall to single digit basis points at the close. The

The Puerto Rico Oversight Board approved a budget amendment that includes more than $9 billion for bond payments after efforts by legislators failed to pass the debt payments required by the bankruptcy court-approved Plan of Adjustment. The board on Monday approved a $23.5 billion General Fund budget for the current fiscal year, with $12.5 billion

Municipals were mixed Wednesday even as U.S. Treasuries and equities sold off amid intensifying tensions over the Russia-Ukraine crisis. Municipal triple-A yields were unchanged on the Refinitiv MMD scale while experiencing up to two basis point cuts outside 10 years on ICE Data Services’ curve and two basis point bumps inside of 5 years on

A legal battle between the Missouri attorney general and dozens of school districts over mask mandates could strain ratings, S&P Global Ratings warns. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt warned school districts in a letter Dec. 7 of potential enforcement actions if they continued to enforce local health mandates thrown out in November in a ruling

Municipals were mixed on Tuesday with U.S. Treasuries providing little guidance while equities sold off on increasing concerns over Ukraine and Russia. Municipal triple-A yields were unchanged on Refinitiv MMD and Bloomberg BVAL scales while experiencing up to three basis point bumps on the long end of ICE Data Services’ curve and two basis point

Bondholders of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority are seeking court-ordered mediation and tight deadlines for action on the authority’s debt restructuring. The Ad Hoc Group of PREPA Bondholders filed a motion for these things and another motion for expedited consideration of their motion Friday afternoon in the U.S. District Court for Puerto Rico, which

A coming tide of infrastructure money is about to smack into a sharp rise in construction costs. In Miami Beach, the developers of a proposed monorail said last month that the price tag had nearly doubled, to $1 billion from $587 million. Some of the uptick came from a design change, but the biggest chunk

The government will stay open until mid-March under the latest short-term spending measure, but much of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding issuers are eagerly awaiting remains on hold without a full-year budget. The Senate Thursday passed the new continuing resolution, which funds the government through March 11. The 65-27 vote averted a partial

Michigan State University got a rating outlook boost as it heads into the market with a $500 million century bond. S&P Global Ratings revised the outlook on its AA rating to stable from negative ahead of the deal, citing the university’s management through the operational turbulence caused by the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. The

Puerto Rico’s government is exploring refinancing its Puerto Rico Sales Tax Finance Corporation’s bonds, also known as COFINA bonds, a move some say could allow the commonwealth to see cost savings as it also works toward restructuring its general obligation bonds. The Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority has requested pre-qualified investment banks

The Federal Reserve formally adopted tough, sweeping restrictions on officials’ investing and trading, aiming to prevent a repeat of the ethics scandal that engulfed the U.S. central bank last year. The changes codify new guidelines announced in October to restrict active trading, prohibit the purchase of individual securities and boost disclosure requirements among policymakers and senior staff

Triple-A benchmark yields fell further Friday, as U.S. Treasuries were better in a continued flight-to-safety bid, while equities ended in the red again. Traders and managers reported a firm tone and trading showed it on Friday ahead of next week’s lower new-issue calendar. “It’s pretty quiet,” a New York trader said on Friday afternoon, pointing

The Puerto Rico Oversight Board is appealing the approved Plan of Adjustment’s treatment of up to $400 million of eminent domain claims. The claims against Puerto Rico will currently be paid in full or, in some cases, at high rates to the claimants and the board would like them to be paid at the rate

Municipals were stronger on Thursday with yields falling for the first time since Feb. 3 on triple-A yield curves, but underperforming an improved U.S. Treasury market in a flight-to-safety bid while Refinitiv Lipper reported $1.3 billion of outflows from mutual funds. Triple-A benchmark yields fell one to four basis points, with the larger bumps outside

Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland President Loretta Mester said she supports raising interest rates next month and tightening policy at a faster pace if needed to curb inflation. “I believe it will be appropriate to move the funds rate up in March and follow with further increases in the coming months,” Mester said Thursday in

Illinois’ proposed budget puts the state on track for a possible upgrade, Fitch Ratings suggested in a report published Wednesday. Fitch rates Illinois BBB-minus, one notch below S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service, which both upgraded the state last year. What Fitch ultimately does hinges on the final budget adopted by lawmakers. The state’s

Republicans’ procedural blockade of President Biden’s Federal Reserve nominees has left Senate Democrats with few options and could delay for months the revamp of the central bank’s board, according to analysts and political strategists. The 12 GOP members of the Senate Banking Committee decided not to show Tuesday for a scheduled vote by the panel,