Markets

Voters in the Southern California rejected a water and wastewater rate increase, and a subsequent rate hike triggered an unsuccessful recall election.

Milwaukee-based Baird said it will expand its public finance footprint into new markets when it closes on the purchase next year.

The muni market was getting stronger yet again on Thursday, as one of the week's biggest hit the screens.

Pending home sales fell 2.6% to an index reading of 102.1 in October, after a revised 0.7% rise to 104.8 in September.

Initial claims for U.S. state unemployment benefits were up 10,000 to 234,000 in the Nov. 24 holiday week, well above the 220,000 level expected.

Nominal personal consumption expenditures rose 0.6% in October while core PCE prices were up 0.1% for the month, slowing the year/year rate to 1.8%.

Dearborn plans to price $35 million of bonds and Muskegon County plans $45 million.

Three of the four index components declined from September.

A flurry of mid-sized deals priced, as the muni market firmed ahead of what should be the busiest day of the week.

SIFMA and BDA responded to the MSRB's request for comment on muni indices and benchmarks, and transparency was a major theme.