Bonds

Chicago Public Schools’ $872 million of junk-rated paper met with a more fickle high-yield audience this week, underscoring the district’s vulnerability to market volatility even as it inches closer to investment grade status. At attractive spreads that offered a healthy yield kick with many maturities offering 4% coupons, the bonds were 2.2 times oversubscribed, CPS

Municipals ended the week steady to slightly weaker in spots, even as U.S. Treasuries sold off and equities ended mixed on inflation concerns and more hawkish Fed speak. Municipal yields have risen in response to Treasuries, but were mostly unmoved by Friday’s selloff, again lagging taxable counterparts as munis are wont to do on a

A glitch in a computer code that’s widely used by municipalities may pose a significant risk to them, leaving them open to cyber attacks and ransomware demands, Fitch Ratings said on Friday. Public finance entities running Java-based software are broadly exposed due to the widespread use of the open-source Log4j (Log4Shell) computer code, Fitch said

Municipal benchmark yields were steady to firmer by a basis point 10-years and out Thursday as U.S. Treasuries were stronger and equities sold off led by tech stocks. The municipal primary dominated the day with several large deals pricing. The correction to higher yields over the past week is allowing investors to be more selective

The calendar his flipped to 2022 and California’s state government stands in a league of its own, for the wrong reason. It’s the only state yet to publish its annual comprehensive financial report for fiscal 2020, more than a year and a half after the year closed. Officials involved have pointed to the troubled rollout

Municipal bonds were largely unchanged Wednesday, the first session in a week in which benchmark yield curves were not cut, while the primary provided more guidance for a supply-starved market. U.S. Treasuries were flat 10-years and in, but softer on the long bond and equities ended in the black. Municipal to UST ratios rose slightly

Kroll Bond Rating Agency revised the outlook on New Jersey’s general obligation bonds to positive from stable and affirmed the state’s GO rating at A. Additionally, Kroll assigned an A-minus rating with a positive outlook to the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund Authority’s $750 million of Series 2022BB transportation program bonds selling next week. KBRA

Municipal secondary selling pressure remained elevated on bonds inside 10 years while the larger primary got underway and deals saw bumps in repricings as U.S. Treasuries made small gains and equities rallied. Triple-A benchmark yields saw one to four basis point cuts while U.S. Treasuries ended the session better. Municipal to UST ratios rose slightly

Major challenges for the public finance industry abound but rising interest rates is the largest concern for business in 2022, market participants said in a Bond Buyer/Arizent Research survey. Nearly 60% of respondents said rising interest rates are their biggest worry, followed by regulatory requirements or changes at 45% and a lack of face-to-face communication

Municipal yields rose again Monday by three to six basis points on elevated selling pressure while short U.S. Treasuries saw pressure and equities ended mixed. Municipal to UST ratios rose slightly on the day’s moves. The five-year was at 50%, 67% in 10 and 78% in 30, according to Refinitiv MMD’s 3 p.m. read. ICE

Central bankers need to speak up about economic barriers prompted by racism and the need for inclusion and diversity, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic said, a response to critics who see the work as a distraction from the Fed’s main goals.  “I hear this a lot in terms of the work we

Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin announced plans Thursday to run for state controller entering an increasingly congested race. The termed-out Galperin seeks to replace State Controller Betty Yee, who also terms out this year. He throws his hat into a race that already includes Republican Lanhee Chen, a former George W. Bush White House

The United States Department of Justice on Friday told the Puerto Rico bankruptcy judge it would defend the constitutionality of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act, the law governing the bankruptcy process that has been challenged by several parties. The move may slow the confirmation process of the Plan of Adjustment. U.S.

The lingering effects of federal aid should help not-for-profit hospital ratings weather the COVID-19 pandemic’s wounds even as labor shortages and other strains persist through 2022, S&P Global Ratings said. “Our view remains stable as the sector continues to weather the pandemic well — albeit with the benefit of significant federal aid,” S&P said in

The Department of the Treasury has issued its final ruling on its State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, leaving the controversial tax cut ban mandate virtually untouched as it hopes to restrict the use of stimulus funds to offset tax cuts. “Congress specified two types of ineligible uses of funds: funds may not be used

Municipals ended the week with another round of cuts to triple-A scales, moving yields higher by another five basis points, playing catch-up to the selloff in U.S. Treasuries. Muni yields rose 13 basis points across the yield curve to end the first week of 2022. The five-year UST rose 15 basis points to a high

Among the U.S. Virgin Islands government’s many problems is an economy that shrunk 24% in real terms from 2009 to 2019. The territory’s economy has continued to struggle in the past two years, with the islands’ employment down 9.5% through from February 2020 to October 2021, according to New York Federal Reserve Bank Early Benchmarked

Municipal triple-A benchmark yields rose as much as eight basis points on the short end on certain scales Thursday as U.S. Treasury yields remained elevated and equities see-sawed as more hawkish Fed speak continued. The Federal Reserve expects Omicron to fizzle in weeks, and while pandemic-related risks remain, the economy is strong and the Fed

While U.S. Treasuries and equities sold off after release of the FOMC minutes, municipals were largely unchanged on Wednesday, pointing again to a lack of primary supply to provide yield guidance as participants sit back and watch what unfolds in broader markets. The Federal Reserve’s tone has turned more hawkish in the latest meetings, “and

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration appears close to naming a Treasury Department veteran and leading voice on fighting climate-related financial risk to the top bank-regulatory job at the Federal Reserve Board. Sarah Bloom Raskin — who was the No. 2 at Treasury and a Fed governor in the Obama administration — has emerged as the