Markets

The municipal bond market priced deals from Partners Healthcare, South Miami Health and Empire State Development as investors waited for final details of tax law changes affecting private activity bonds.

Moody's dropped its outlook on Franciscan Alliance's Aa3 rating to negative from stable.

The municipal bond market saw Empire State Development sell almost $2 billion of bonds in five competitive offerings on Thursday as the market focused on tax changes being worked on in Washington.

The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction $45 billion 91-day bills and $39 billion 182-day discount bills Monday.

Tim Blake of Moody’s Investors Service talks with The Bond Buyer about why the level of pension funding is now linked to the ratings of state and localities and shares the firm’s views on the financial realities many municipalities face today. John Hallacy is host.

U.S. import prices rose 0.7% in November after rising 0.1% in October, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Thursday.

Initial claims U.S. state unemployment benefits fell 11,000 to 225,000 in the Dec. 9 week from 236,000 in the prior week, data released by the Labor Department Thursday showed.

The municipal bond market will see two mega-deals hit the screens on Thursday, representing both the negotiated and competitive sectors.

November retail sales rose 0.8% versus the 0.3% gain expected, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

Municipal bond yields fell by as much as seven basis points as the Federal Reserve raised interest rates as expected and market participants eyed tax reform talks in Washington.