Finance

Fitch Ratings downgraded Nebraska's Regional West Health Services by two notches, lowering its long-term issuer default rating to CCC from B-minus.

The Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes showed the decision was closer than the vote indicated, with "a few" voters suggesting they would have supported no change at the meeting.

"The upgrade to Baa3 recognizes the city's fiscal stability under the current casino taxation format," as well as rapid debt defeasance, the rating agency said.

The Alaska IDEA's $75M notes were rated AA-plus by S&P, which cited strong financials.

The muni credit market has experienced headwinds this year, including "potential federal funding cuts, the impact of tariffs and sector-specific pressures," said Goldman Sachs strategists

Moody's Ratings upgraded the Rhode Island Airport Corporation's airport revenue bonds for Providence's T.F. Green International Airport to A3 from Baa1.

The muni bond market stands at an "inflection point," said Nuveen strategists in a 2026 market outlook.

"A stagnant yield curve is resulting from supply having wound down and munis drawing steadiness from a likewise calm UST market," said Kim Olsan, senior fixed income portfolio manager at NewSquare Capital.

Moody's Ratings upgraded the Chicago Transit Authority to Aa3 from A1 Friday, and upgraded the Chicago-area Regional Transportation Authority to Aa2 from Aa3.

It was a "confusing, volatile year, and the states face growing threats in 2026 and thereafter," said Matt Fabian, president of Municipal Market Analytics.

Unless there is a massive selloff in the next two weeks, there will not be a major spike in market participants using tax-loss harvesting through year-end, said Ben Barber, director of municipal bonds at Franklin Templeton.

Following the September/October rally, munis have been relatively steady in November and December, with direction and magnitude of rate change in the UST market driving underperformance or outperformance, said J.P. Morgan strategists led by Peter DeGroot.

The dramatic downgrade projects a default by January 2027 on bonds issued to finance the Miami-to-Orlando passenger train service.

Supply for the final two weeks of the year will be virtually nonexistent, with only one deal, $24.46 million of taxable multi-family/project bonds from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, on the calendar for next week.

Muni yields were bumped a basis point, while UST yields fell two to four basis points.

"Once this week is done, that's it for the year. The following week is Christmas, and then after that, the new year," said Jeff Timlin, a partner at Sage Advisory.

Palomar Health's bond rating remains stuck at junk, but UCSD partnership offers a glimmer of hope.

The company has the option to defer interest payments three times without triggering a formal default.

Inflation reports may drive markets in 2026 since the labor market is "sending mixed messages," said Kevin O'Neil, associate portfolio manager and senior research analyst at Brandywine Global.

Next year, the "muni market could see stable to improving returns depending on yield curve positioning, with better performance possible at the long end of the curve," said Jonathan Rocafort, managing director and head of fixed income solutions at Parametric.