News and Information from Bond Buyer

Raymond James has hired veteran municipal banker Jim Tricolli as a managing director.

The January sales tax report shows that Texas is recovering but still hurting on some revenue streams, Comptroller Glenn Hegar said.

Rich ratios focus buyers' eyes on a primary market that simply doesn't have enough supply to keep up with demand.

Sixteen investment funds are making an argument on Employees Retirement System bonds that could be widened to other Puerto Rico bonds.

The Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Chicago's suburbs reopened over the summer, but isn't drawing enough business to cover a Jan. 1 debt service payment.

The dealer group is concerned the SEC may provide another exemption for municipal advisors to work on private placement deals.

Maria Doulis, named deputy comptroller, was vice president at the watchdog Citizens Budget Commission while Todd Scheuermann, assistant comptroller in the Division of Budget and Policy Analysis, had been secretary to Senate finance committee.

Fitch says Biden administration comments that it expects to maintain higher levels of Medicaid matching dollars through 2021 will help states.

A Pioneer Institute report cited “a persistent trend” of high-income earners leaving high-tax states for low-tax ones.

Lee Igel of New York University's Tisch Institute for Global Sport explores what's behind the mad scramble among states to legalize sports betting. Paul Burton hosts. (15 minutes)

High-yield continues to be sought after as high-grade paper is yielding about 0.70% in 10 years and 1.40% or lower in 30 years and credit spreads continue to tighten in nearly every sector. Ratios are near 20-year record lows.

Acacia and Estrada grew substantially.

Michelle Getz was named a partner of the Equitable Facilities Fund.

McCall Parkhurst & Horton and Norton Rose Fulbright moved up in 2020 to second and third.

The coronavirus emergency spending bill enacted by Congress in December included a provision enhancing the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit so it’s a true 4%.

Attractive returns are pushing investors into high-yield at a time of historically low interest rates and a shortage of muni volume, but caution is warranted as COVID-19 still looms.

This year's pension debt volume could match that of 2020, which was the highest since the financial crisis year of 2008, industry leaders say.

The board aims to improve transportation resources on the island.

It is most certainly an issuers' market as rates are low, credit spreads continue to tighten, money pours into municipal bond mutual funds at record levels and a net negative supply of more than $11 billion.

Issuance dropped 26.7% in January, tax-exempt issuance fell 32.6% while refundings and taxables saw smaller declines. Part of the drops were due to the typical nature of lighter January issuance but also issuer anticipation of potential federal aid to combat the pandemic.