Oliver Renick

Moody's Investors Service upgraded MBIA's municipal bond insurer National Public Finance Guarantee to A3, from Baa1, the rating agency said late Wednesday. The action reflects the insurer's "improving prospects for generating new insurance," Moody's said.

The Bond Buyer's muni bond indexes were mostly stable in the week ending May 1, as Treasuries continued firming.

The Bond Buyer's muni bond indexes were mostly stable in the week ending April 24, as Treasuries firmed.

Illinois primary paper has had a good run, but 10-year spreads to MMD were wider than in previous bond sales this year and questions remain about the state’s credit.

Municipal bond prices were mixed to lower in a hesitant market Tuesday, but at least one bond seller came out on top.

Wells Fargo Bank won the competitive auction for $750 million of California general obligation bonds Tuesday afternoon, the state Treasurer's office confirmed.

A $750 million California general obligation competitive deal is set to prop up the municipal primary calendar Tuesday. The muni market is coming off the lowest week of issuance since Feb. 20, with just $2.05 billion of new bonds offered last week, and buyers are hungry for fresh paper.

The Bond Buyer's muni bond indexes were mostly stable in the week ending April 10, as Treasuries softened.

Municipal bond mutual funds reporting weekly had a second straight week of inflows in the week ending April 17, according to Lipper FMI data.

Capital projects scheduled by infrastructure-related issuers like transportation and utility entities will keep the sector busy despite expected low issuance this year, investors and issuers said at a JP Morgan conference.

Puerto Rico 8% coupon bonds issued last month in the island's historic $3.5 billion junk deal plunged to new low prices late Friday.

The Bond Buyer's muni bond indexes strengthened in the week ending April 3, as Treasury yields declined.

Trading in the municipal market picked up Thursday after a slow week, traders said, as new deals were met with strong demand and secondary bonds traded firmer.

Municipal bonds firmed Thursday morning even as the U.S. government announced jobless claims in the week ended April 5 plunged by the most in at least 10 years.

The Bond Buyer's muni bond indexes were mostly unchanged in the week ending April 3, even as Treasury yields rose.

Attorney John Kraft said he's preparing to pass the torch at New Jersey's oldest bond counsel firm, adding Jason Capizzi as a member and renaming it Kraft & Capizzi, LLC.

Bond Buyer indexes softened, but outperformed treasuries in the week ending March 20.

Bond insurers got a lift as an industry outlook report and ratings upgrades by Standard & Poor's on Assured Guaranty and National Public Finance Guarantee bolstered Wall Street's confidence in the business.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services upgraded ratings of bond insurers Assured Guaranty and National Public Finance Guarantee, the agency said Tuesday afternoon. Assured Guaranty, the only insurer to continue operating through the 2008 financial crisis, received a boost to AA from AA-minus.

Municipal bonds remained firm in light of the biggest week of issuance to hit the market so far this year.