Fitch

The Fitch downgrade to A-plus from AA-minus affects nearly $2 billion in debt.

The historic nature of how ratings for municipal issuers play out in times of severe volatility is under scrutiny from various market participants.

The rating agency delivered the latest coronavirus-related hit to the city's ratings by cutting its outlook. The city's GO bonds were affirmed at AA.

Early official estimates of current fiscal year revenue drops include $353 million in Arkansas, $396 million in Colorado, $219 in Oklahoma and $224 million in Vermont.

Arlene Bohner has been named Fitch's head of U.S. public finance and will report to Laura Porter.

Analysts expect a drop in trade volume in at least the first two quarters of this year.

If demand to fly declines domestically, it may affect airports' credit ratings, analysts say.

Since the Great Recession, many states have almost doubled their reserve levels.

Not-for-profit hospitals and healthcare systems are positioned to weather headwinds facing the medical profession in the 2020s.

Laura Porter will be analytical global group head of public finance and infrastructure ratings, replacing Dan Champeau, who is moving to Fitch Solutions.

Data on default rates shows that while there has been improvement in consistency between corporate and muni ratings, there is still work to be done.

Director and Analytical Leader, Fitch Ratings

A multiple-year recession and state leaders' failure to adequately address it led to the Fitch Ratings downgrade.

As a result of the March 23 appellate court ruling, Fitch announced on April 11 it has put seven bond issuances on negative ratings watch.

The gas tax has fallen short of meeting infrastructure needs, and cities need new solutions.

Among the topics on the plate for Laura Porter, Fitch Ratings' new head of public finance, are complex credits, special revenue legal focus and ESG factors and scoring. Porter believes there are still opportunities in this market and has the team to assist in these efforts. John Hallacy hosts.

The groundings of Boeing 737 MAX 8 and tariffs with China could have an impact on revenue growth among ports and airports.

The growth in public-private partnerships increases the need to coordinate the infrastructure and public finance teams.

Shawn Wooden expects his proposal to fix to state teachers’ pension system to kick-start an agenda that includes infrastructure, improved returns and financial literacy.

Governance and economics, rather than cutting benefits, are increasingly seen as key to solving pension funding woes.