Bonds

Chicago launched a tender offer this week as part of its upcoming Sales Tax Securitization Corp. transaction that will also debut the city’s first social bonds that target seven trackable Chicago Recovery Plan projects. The tender offer to holders of more than $2 billion of general obligation debt expires Jan. 11 at 5 p.m., Eastern

Munis rallied Wednesday as outflows lessened and U.S. Treasury yields fell in lockstep even as minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee meeting showed participants agreeing rate cuts are not expected in 2023. Equities ended up. Triple-A benchmark yields were bumped four to 15 basis points, depending on the curve, while U.S. Treasury yields fell

Eleven major financial firms have filed a motion to dismiss a Puerto Rico Oversight Board lawsuit seeking $1.42 billion from them for their work on past municipal bond and interest rate swaps. The constructive fraudulent transfer claims are barred under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act, which provides a “safe harbor,” the

Passenger counts at the three Port Authority of New York and New Jersey airports were higher in November than in November 2019, marking the first month they beat a pre-pandemic comparison. Air travel was up 2% when compared to the same time period in 2019, as Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport,

Puerto Rico’s September and October net revenues came in 12.3% above projections. The net revenues were 0.2% above those of September and October of 2021, despite the impact of Hurricane Fiona in September, the Puerto Rico Treasury Department reported. The hurricane led to a several-day power outage. Beyond its immediate economic effects, the department allowed

The Army Corps of Engineers approved a wetlands work permit for the land in Georgia where electric vehicle maker Rivian plans a 16-million-foot battery and vehicle production plant. Over the last few months, the Corps and federal and state environmental agencies led a review of Rivian’s plans for a factory on 2000 acres of rural

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 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

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 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

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 Federal Open Market Committee may cut rates next year, according to some analysts, while others expect no declines until 2024. “I think the market is right in terms of projecting cuts later next year because I do think we’ll see both a combination of a weaker labor market and higher unemployment and softer inflation,”

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%

Liquidity and equity remain the top concern for municipal market participants who deal in high-yield securities. Nearly 20% of respondents to a HilltopSecurities high-yield team survey ranked liquidity and equity as their first concern for 2023. Management and covenant package ranked second and third, respectively. “In today’s environment, liquidity can help protect a myriad of

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