Washington

Sen. Ron Wyden, the new chair of the Senate Finance Committee, has recently voiced some ideas that would favor the municipal bond market, such as extending bond-related and other expiring tax provisions and reinstating Build America Bonds.

Sen. Ron Wyden, the new chair of the Senate Finance Committee, has recently voiced some ideas that would favor the municipal bond market, such as extending bond-related and other expiring tax provisions and reinstating Build America Bonds. But the Oregon Democrat's past actions, such as sponsoring legislation that would favor tax-credit over tax-exempt bonds, have posed threats to the muni market.

A gradual economic recovery helped the credits of municipal bond issuers in 2013, Fitch Ratings said Wednesday, with the agency reporting that the past year witnessed fewer downgrades and more upgrades than 2012.

Former Bank of America executive Phillip Murphy pleaded guilt Monday in a North Carolina federal court to rigging municipal bond investment bids, while convicted bid-rigger Mark Zaino's sentencing has been delayed yet again in New York.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is examining the extent to which dealers using alternative trading systems and broker's brokers are engaged in anti-competitive practices such as blocking or filtering out competitors from being able to bid on their municipal securities.

Governors presented more optimistic outlooks of their states' economies and finances in their state of the state addresses this year, and many said they would pursue new spending, Moody's Investors Service said in a report.

Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority picks four finalists for next phase of $5.7 billion light rail extension to Dulles International Airport.

The Securities and Exchange Commission's muni office will spend the coming months implementing the final municipal advisor rule and reviewing MA rule filings by the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, but the commission needs more resources to meet its expanded responsibilities.

The hot Texas economy is spurring operators of the state's airports and seaports to provide new infrastructure to accommodate the growing state.

Convicted bid-rigger David Rubin should pay more than $11,5 million in restitution to 99 municipal victims who have not been compensated for losses they incurred due to "kickbacks" and depressed interest rates resulting from criminal activity, according to U.S. Justice Department filings with a federal court this week.

WASHINGTON – The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board has decided to propose an explicit best execution rule for dealers in the municipal market, MSRB officials said Tuesday, calling it "a very significant development for the municipal market."

Washington state representative Hans Zeiger has introduced a bipartisan proposal to pilot social impact bonds in the state starting in 2016.

The growth of shipping fleets is outstripping demand, leading Moody's Investors Service analysts to slap a negative outlook on U.S. ports for the next 18 months.

Dealer groups told issuer officials Jan. 30 that they have many unanswered questions under the Securities and Exchange Commission's registration rule, as broker-dealers work to keep municipalities informed about their efforts to comply with the rule before its July 1 effective date.

The thousands of airline flights cancelled this winter due to severe weather may affect some airports' revenues and cost budgets, Fitch Ratings said.

Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber says the state legislature must take action next month to move forward with the Columbia River bridge replacement project or it will die in March.

Sentencing for convicted bid-rigger David Rubin has been pushed back until March 6 because his attorney will not be able to be present during the previously scheduled Feb. 3 date.

A bipartisan agreement on a farm bill includes a one-year extension of funding for the federal payments in lieu of taxes program through fiscal 2014.

Proposed federal legislation would revive state infrastructure banks as a funding option for local transportation projects.

Municipal bankruptcy expert James Spiotto is proposing the idea of public pension authorities to resolve pension issues.