News and Information from Bond Buyer

The municipal bond market is looking at a short week, with trading closed Friday for the Good Friday holiday.

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for February slumped to negative 0.29 from a revised positive 0.41 reading in January, while the three-month moving average (CFNAI-MA3) narrowed to negative 0.07 from a revised negative 0.12 in January, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Monday.

Monday, March 21 Issuer St Description Amount

Monday, March 21 Issuer St Description Amount

Week Of March 21 Issuer St Description Amount

Week Of March 21 Issuer St Description Amount

KENTUCKY

ALABAMA

Day Indicator Last Report Forecast Monday Existing Home Sales Jan.: 5.47M Feb.: 5.34M Wednesday New Home Sales Jan.: 494,000 Feb.: 510,000 Thursday Durable Goods Jan.: +4.9% Feb.: -2.8% Thursday ex-Trans Jan.: +1.8% Feb.: -0.2% Thursday Initial Jobless Claims 3/12: 265,000 3/19: 268,000 Thursday Continuing Claims 3/5: 2.235M 3/12: 2.220M Thursday GDP Q3.: +2.0% Q4: +1.0% Thursday Final Sales Q3.: +2.7% Q4: +1.3%

Mar. 21, 2016 Northeast: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Connecticut Aa3/AA/AA 0.73 1.55 2.4 3.34 Delaware Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.53 1.11 1.84 2.79 Maine Aa2/AA/AA 0.55 1.18 1.95 2.92 Maryland Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.53 1.16 1.88 2.8 Massachusetts Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.55 1.21 2.02 2.97 New Hampshire Aa1/AA/AA+ 0.55 1.16 1.89 2.89 New Jersey A2/A/A 0.88 1.92 2.75 3.67 New York Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.53 1.12 1.91 2.96 Pennsylvania Aa3/AA+/AA+ 0.73 1.72 2.53 3.4 Rhode Island Aa2/AA/AA 0.63 1.35 2.2 3.15 Vermont Aaa/AA+/AAA 0.53 1.13 1.87 2.81 Dist. of Columbia Aa1/AA/AA 0.56 1.23 2.03 3 Puerto Rico Caa3/CC/CC 25.53 15.82 11.65 8.7

3/18/2016 3/11/2016 State # Iss Amount ($000s) # Iss Amount ($000s) Chg in Amt ($000s) Connecticut 1 $6,125 7 $621,175 -$615,050 Delaware 0 0 0 0 0 Maine 1 6,815 0 0 6,815 Maryland 2 82,040 7 327,685 -245,645 Massachusetts 2 47,822 4 87,940 -40,118 New Hampshire 0 0 1 73,900 -73,900 New Jersey 7 332,046 2 11,488 320,558 New York 9 92,732 10 1,082,579 -989,847 Pennsylvania 7 200,940 13 382,960 -182,020 Rhode Island 0 0 0 0 0 Vermont 0 0 2 23,540 -23,540 District of Columbia 0 0 0 0 0 Puerto Rico 1 750,000 1 750,000 0

Justin Rodriguez has been named as a Senior Vice President at Siebert Brandford Shank & Co., the firm announced on Monday. Rodriguez, who will be based in the firm’s San Antonio office, is responsible for transaction origination with municipal issuers in the South, Central and West Texas markets.

As the 2016 presidential race narrows down to a handful of candidates, it appears likely that business mogul Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be the nominees with the most votes at the Republican and Democratic conventions.

Government

The holiday-abbreviated upcoming week's new issue slate will be led by issuers from Texas, Washington, and Colorado. Munis ended the week on a strong note, as yields were as many as two basis points lower in some maturities, according to traders.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Tuesday on whether Chapter 9 of the federal bankruptcy code, which does not apply to Puerto Rico, nevertheless preempts or makes illegal a law adopted by the commonwealth that would allow its utilities to restructure their debts.

Stephen Adnopoz has been named a resident partner in charge of Pearlman & Miranda LLC's newly opened New York office and expanded public finance practice, the firm announced on Friday.

Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro García Padilla is preparing to submit a bill for a moratorium on the payment of Puerto Rico’s debt.

Ohio is issuing $80 million of capital facilities lease-appropriation bonds to fund parks and recreation improvement projects.

Alabama proposal would set its gasoline tax rate to match the average fuel levy in surrounding states.