Sarah Wynn

If demand to fly declines domestically, it may affect airports' credit ratings, analysts say.

Since the Great Recession, many states have almost doubled their reserve levels.

Bond Dealers of America sent the SEC a long list of requests to limit municipal advisors' roles in private placements.

Municipal bond issuers say investors, analysts and regulators should narrow down the information they are looking for in their push for more disclosure.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board on Monday detailed plans to reduce its board size and alter its composition.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board has received criticism for the large size of its board and its selection of public board members.

The Securities and Exchange Commission will discuss voluntary disclosure and buy-side perspectives among other topics in March.

The Securities and Exchange Commission wll work with the market to change secondary disclosure habits without a mandate, issuers and analysts said.

Sources say Hopper has considerable experience with municipal securities in her many years at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Nicole Byrd, a senior investment professional at Nationwide Mutual Insurance, will be the National Federation of Municipal Analysts chair for the next year.

Buy side analysts are skeptical about broker-dealer concerns that the order could greatly expand the private placement market.

The board will, among other things, review comments on a proposed order that would allow municipal advisors to participate in some private placement activities.

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association survey indicates low interest rates will keep the environment for issuing debt favorable.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board's assets dropped by $8.5 million.

An SEC advisory committee recommended allowing investment advisers affiliated with broker-dealers to offer and sell negotiated new issue muni bonds during the order period that the dealer also participates in.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority released its annual Risk Monitoring and Examinations Priorities letter Thursday.

Dealer groups want the SEC to examine broker-dealers and municipal advisors equally.

Some smaller firms are deciding to qualify more than half of their municipal advisor principals as a sort of backup plan.

The Securities and Exchange Commission plans to focus on protecting Main Street investors in municipal bonds.

The investigation appears to be linked to the supervision of Deborah Kelley, a broker who was convicted and sanctioned for bribing a state pension fund officer.