News and Information from Bond Buyer

Wyoming’s governor and other leaders are trying to diversify the energy-dependent state’s economy.

S&P Global Ratings lowered its issuer credit rating (ICR) on St. Anthony’s Medical Center (SAMC), Mo. to 'BBB+' from 'A-' and also lowered its long-term rating on Missouri Health & Educational Facilities Authority's series 2015B bonds issued for SAMC to 'BBB+' from 'A-'. The outlook is negative.

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló submitted a 10-year fiscal plan to the Oversight Board that would allow for annual debt payments of about 18% to 41% of debt due.

Atlantic City’s $72 million tax settlement with the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is a credit positive for the distressed gambling hub that produced “considerable” savings, according to Moody’s Investors Service.

Top-quality municipal bonds ended weaker on Wednesday, according to traders, as large competitive offerings from Maryland and Nevada issuers hit the market.

Trump's address to Congress last night didn't add any details to the $1 trillion plan released by his presidential campaign in late October.

The U.S. "economy expanded at a modest to moderate pace," according to the Beige Book, which was released by the Federal Reserve on Wednesday.

Facing continuing revenue shortages, Oklahoma was downgraded to to AA from AA-plus by S&P Global Ratings.

Public finance attorneys Kenneth Pollock and Laurie Schwartz are working in Butler Snow’s Atlanta office and Jamie Garner is in the firm’s Macon office.

Portland, Ore. voters will decide whether or not to approve $790 million of school bonds in May following a unanimous vote from the city’s school board.

Bond insurer ACA Financial Guaranty Corp. has gone to federal court seeking the keys to Buena Vista, Virginia’s city hall and compensatory damages after the city defaulted on ACA-wrapped debt that financed a golf course.

SEC Commissioners gave the green light on Wednesday for the staff to propose two new amendments to Rule 15c2-12 that would require issuers and borrowers to disclose certain information about bank loans and private placements, which are increasingly used alternatives to publicly offered muni bonds.

Top-quality municipal bonds were weaker on Wednesday, according to traders, as large competitive offerings from Maryland and Nevada issuers hit the market.

S&P Global Ratings said it lowered its rating on the state of Oklahoma's general obligation bonds one notch to AA from AA-plus.

Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual Personal Income Dec.: +0.3% Jan.: +0.3% Jan.: +0.4% Consumption Dec.: +0.5% Jan.: +0.3% Jan.: +0.2% Core PCE Price Index Dec.: +0.1% Jan.: +0.2% Jan.: +0.3% Construction Spending Dec.: +0.1% Jan.: +0.6% Jan.: -1.0% ISM Manufacturing PMI Jan.: 56.0 Feb.: 56.0 Feb.: 57.7

S&P Global Ratings said it revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed its AA-minus rating on New York State Dormitory Authority's series 2010 revenue bonds and the Dutchess County Local Development Corp.'s series 2013 revenue bonds, issued for Vassar College.

S&P Global Ratings said it placed its B rating on the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority's matching fund loan notes, senior- and subordinate-lien bonds, issued for the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), on CreditWatch with negative implications.

The overall economy grew for the ninety-third straight time, while the manufacturing sector expanded for the sixth consecutive month, the Institute for Supply Management reported Wednesday.

The Illinois Senate is expected to vote Wednesday on tax hikes that would raise billions in new annual revenue as leaders press forward with their bipartisan "Grand Bargain" legislation aimed at ending the 20-month-old budget standoff.

The municipal bond market will be waiting to see some supply hit the screens on Wednesday – including large competitive offerings from Maryland and Nevada issuers.