Special Report
The Bond Buyer's Midyear 2009 In Statistics
Credit Enhancers Endure the Worst Year of Their Lives
By Dan Seymour | Aug 11The financial crisis last year blew the credit-enhancement industry apart.
Bank-Qualified Bond Issuance Gets Big Boost From Stimulus Provisions
By Peter Schroeder | Aug 11Bank-qualified bond issuance nearly doubled in the first half compared to the same period last year, after provisions in the federal stimulus law raised the limit for the debt and extended it to borrowers in conduit deals as well as issuers for 2009 and 2010.
Sector-Specific Debt Sales Gyrate in a Down 1st Half
By Jim Watts | Aug 11All but one of the various bond sectors posted declines in volume in the first half of 2009 from 2008 totals, often with wild variances between sales in the first and second quarters.
Low Yields, Tight Spreads Dominate Note Issuance
By Christine Albano | Aug 11Low yields and tight yield spreads on the short end of the municipal market largely shaped the municipal note market, which saw a small decline in first half 2009 volume, compared with the first half of 2008.
BABs Become the Headliner Act in Market’s First Half
By Michael Scarchilli | Aug 10It is impossible to tell the story of the first half of 2009 in the municipal market without pointing to the creation of the Build America Bond program.
