Massachusetts

Massachusetts conducted its two recent bond deals conducted at what state officials called unprecedented low interest rates, officials said Tuesday.

Goldman, Sachs & Co. agreed to pay $14.5 million to settle charges that a former vice president engaged in pay to play when working for the firm.

Standard & Poor's upgraded its underlying rating on Salem's general obligation debt to A-plus from A.

Massachusetts will sell $400 million of general obligation bonds on Tuesday and $1.2 billion of revenue anticipation notes two days later, both competitively.

The Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust received $77.5 million in grant funding to support low-interest water loans, Treasurer Steven Grossman announced.

More than a third of Massachusetts hospitals lost money in fiscal 2011, according to a state report that comes as providers brace for a cost-containment law.

New York City and Massachusetts are tapping the capital markets to fund social intervention programs under a new mechanism called social impact bonds.

Massachusetts' new health care cost-containment law could pressure the credit quality of providers by compressing margins, according to Standard & Poor's.

The Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency plans to sell $35.7 million sale of fixed-rate, single-family housing revenue bonds through negotiation.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded Lowell General Hospital's debt to Baa2 from Baa1 and removed the rating from under review.

Massachusetts Treasurer Steven Grossman favors lowering the assumed return rate on pension-fund assets. Many states are doing likewise amid diminished returns.

The Massachusetts Development Finance Agency plans a $54 million sale of Northeastern University revenue bonds, with Barclays the lead manager.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed a transportation bond bill that will provide $1.5 billion in state and federal funds.

Massachusetts' $50 billion Pension Reserves Investment Trust, which invests on behalf of public employees and teachers, reported a flat return.

Casino operators, Native American and commercial alike, are scrapping for market share. Competition is keener, discretionary dollars are fewer in a still-down economy and several states are scrambling to snare or preserve gambling revenue.

Moody's places the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's senior sales tax bonds on review for possible downgrade, affecting roughly $3.8 billion in debt.

Moody's Investors Service calls a bill designed to rein in health care costs a credit negative for Massachusetts hospitals because it will limit revenue growth and reduce operating flexibility.

The Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency plans a $76 million sale of new-money and refunding bonds, with Tuesday's retail period to precede an institutional sale the following day.

Standard & Poor's revised its outlook on the general obligation bonds of Hull, Mass., to stable from negative. The rating agency also affirmed its AA-minus long-term rating.

Massachusetts Treasurer Steven Grossman has emphasized wider disclosure by his office, and in its most recent investor conference call, officials had plenty to share.