Massachusetts

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.

The ratings agency praises the Massachusetts capital for its handling of pension and OPEB liabilities and its handling of reserves

The Pittsburgh firm will manage the Massachusetts Municipal Depository Trust bond portfolio, ending Boston-based Fidelity's 35-year run.

The state expands its pool of underwriters interested in negotiated sales by 35%, according to Treasurer Steven Grossman.

Massachusetts has a budget for fiscal 2013 while South Carolina remains the only state without one, 11 days into the new fiscal year.

The Council of Development Finance Agencies recognizes the Massachusetts conduit issuer for crafting a tax-exempt bond for the school's Gateway Park research complex.

The Massachusetts Port Authority, which needs to shuffle gates at Boston's airport to accommodate the United-Continental merger and JetBlue expansion, plans to sell $285 million in new money and refunding.

On Monday North Carolina gained a budget but as of Tuesday afternoon Massachusetts and South Carolina remain without valid fiscal year 2013 budgets.

Though the new fiscal year has started, Massachusetts, North and South Carolina still lacked fiscal year 2013 budgets on Monday afternoon.

Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and South Carolina are about close to blowing a deadline for adopting a fiscal 2013 budget.

Seven States are two and a half day away from blowing a Saturday deadline for adopting a fiscal year 2013 budget.