Southwest

Texas state and local governments have learned how to manage the boom-bust cycles of the oil industry and are fairly well positioned for lengthy downturn, experts told the The Bond Buyer’s Texas Public Finance Conference.

Relieving the congestion on urban highways in Texas will be a continual process that requires additional funding sources, planners say.

The nation's leading bond counsel firm will open its Houston office with five attorneys from two prominent firms in the Bayou City.

Two Dallas-area school districts – one serving some of the wealthiest students in the nation, the other some of the poorest – are going to the bond market.

With falling oil prices taking the bloom off the Lone Star State's economy, bond issuers and industry executives will examine the future at The Bond Buyer's Texas Public Finance Conference in Austin.

Moody's Investors Service has upgraded Glendale, Ariz.'s rating to A2 from A3, citing improvements in the city's "modest" financial position.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit expects savings of $47 million or about 9% on a $483 million advance refunding of 2008 bonds.

Texas will spend $1.3 billion on 14 highway projects aimed at reducing traffic congestion in five cities.

While lower oil prices are likely to have a stimulative effect on the national economy, we are wary of impacts on the finances of local credits in the Oil Patch.

Two of the top broker-dealer and financial advisory firms in the Southwest officially combined under the management of Hilltop Holdings on Monday.