News and Information from Bond Buyer

The next few weeks will be perilous for Puerto Rico, several economists and policy experts told The Bond Buyer, though they disagreed about the actions the commonwealth should take.

Municipal bonds traders were looking to put most of the week's hefty primary issuance behind them on Thursday as they waited for last few deals to come to market ahead of next week's holiday-shortened session.

The region's manufacturing sector grew in November, as the general business conditions index climbed to positive 1.9 from negative 4.5 in October, this month's Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business indicates.

Nov. 19, 2015 Southeast: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Alabama Aa1/AA/AA+ 0.32 1.37 2.23 3.21 Florida Aa1/AAA/AAA 0.32 1.38 2.29 3.23 Georgia Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.3 1.31 2.14 3.1 Kentucky Aa2/AA+/AA+ 0.34 1.45 2.34 3.33 Louisiana Aa2/AA/AA 0.43 1.66 2.62 3.59 Mississippi Aa2/AA/AA+ 0.35 1.47 2.39 3.38 North Carolina Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.3 1.31 2.14 3.11 South Carolina Aaa/AA+/AAA 0.3 1.33 2.17 3.14 Tennessee Aaa/AA+/AAA 0.3 1.33 2.16 3.11 Virginia Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.29 1.3 2.13 3.09 West Virginia Aa1/AA/AA+ 0.32 1.37 2.27 3.26

11/18/2015 11/11/2015 State Iss Amount ($000s) Iss Amount ($000s) Chg in Amt ($000s) Alabama 0 $0 0 $0 0 Florida 14 470,729 4 1,875,130 -1,404,401 Georgia 0 0 0 0 0 Kentucky 7 147,149 3 41,490 105,659 Louisiana 1 9,050 1 3,250 5,800 Mississippi 2 293,595 1 5,000 288,595 North Carolina 2 28,635 1 6,900 21,735 South Carolina 2 20,335 0 0 20,335 Tennessee 2 11,250 2 17,320 -6,070 Virginia 0 0 7 428,070 -428,070 West Virginia 0 0 0 0 0

Thursday, November 19 Issuer St Description Amount

Thursday, November 19 Issuer St Description Amount

Week Of November 16 Issuer St Description Amount

Week Of November 16 Issuer St Description Amount

ALABAMA

ARKANSAS

Driven by the expansion of the U.S. federal government’s Medicaid program, spending by states in fiscal 2015 rose to its highest rate in 23 years, according to report released by the National Association of Budget Officers on Thursday.

Government

The Chicago City Council adopted new rules governing any future asset privatization deals against a backdrop of lingering political and public anger over the city’s parking meter lease fiasco.

New Ways and Means Committee chair Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said on Wednesday that he plans to solicit the views of House members on tax reform over the next few months.

The National Federation of Municipal Analysts has announced two winners of its annual Peter Fugiel Scholarship and acknowledged three honorable mentions.

The California governor’s extension of water conservation mandates could mean downward ratings pressure in the mid-to-long term for water utilities, Fitch Ratings said.

Standard & Poor’s dropped its threat to lower charter school -- Detroit Community Schools’ -- already speculative grade rating after receiving sufficient financial information to hold the rating steady at B-minus.

The San Diego City Council approved a plan to hike water rates by nearly 35% in stair steps over a four-year period.

Municipal bonds finished Wednesday’s session stronger by as much as four basis points, according to traders, even as a second wave of new issues hit the market. In the primary, Ramirez repriced the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority’s $400 million deal to lower yields from five to seven basis points.