Massachusetts

A rating boost affirms the ability of bond insurer Assured Guaranty to minimize its Puerto Rico exposure, according managing director John Hallacy.

Risk costs vary by level of bankruptcy restrictions states place on localities, an insolvency expert said at a Bond Buyer conference in Boston.

The MBTA Retirement Fund defended its performance and called a highly critical Pioneer Institute report 'preconceived."

Cronyism and “endemic” conflicts of interest make the pension fund of Greater Boston transit employees a cautionary tale, said a report by Pioneer Institute.

The Massachusetts Development Finance Agency has received a $3.9 million federal grant under the credit enhancement for charter schools facilities program.

Gov. Deval Patrick vetoed a line item in the $36.5 billion Massahcusetts budget that would have removed the MBTA retirement fund and its board from a sunshine law.

The Massachusetts Port Authority will come to market with a sale of $251.7 million of bonds for Logan International Airport improvements and refunding.

Possible voter repeal of a three-year-old law authorizing casinos adds another wacky element to the Massachusetts gambling licensing process and could blow a $73 million hole in the commonwealth's budget.

Keolis, 70%-owned by the French national railway SNCF, assumed Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority commuter rail operations.

Massachusetts plans to kick off a five-year asset-liability management program with a $500 million sale of SIFMA index bonds.

Massachusetts Democrats nominated Steve Grossman for governor, setting up a primary battle with Attorney General Martha Coakley and upstart Don Berwick.

Standard & Poor's raised its general obligation bond rating of Westborough, Mass., to AAA.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, in its latest timetable revision, expects to award a lucrative Greater Boston resort casino license by mid-September.

The Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust plans a $561.24 million refunding sale of state revolving fund bonds.

Fitch Ratings revised its outlook to negative from stable on $130 million of Covenant Health System revenue bonds in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

The Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management board hired Andre Clapp as senior investment officer for public markets.

Cost containment is vital to pension fund management, according Massachusetts Pension Reserves Management Board executive director Michael Trotsky.

Municipal finance advisory firm PFM Group will sponsor a seminar on financial planning in Boston for higher education business officers.

Massachusetts is preparing to offer another round of so-called green bonds to investors, state Treasurer Steven Grossman said on Earth Day.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, which operates Greater Boston's mass transit system, intends to sell $200 million of senior sales tax bonds.