News and Information from Bond Buyer

Prices of top-rated municipal bonds were stronger in early trading, according to traders, with yields on some maturities weakening by as much as three basis points.

U.S. durable goods orders slumped 2.0% in August, while excluding transportation orders were flat, the Commerce Department reported Thursday.

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index for August fell to negative 0.41 from a revised positive 0.51 reading in July, while the three-month moving average (CFNAI-MA3) dipped to 0.01 from a revised 0.02 in July, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago reported Thursday.

Thursday, September 24 Issuer St Description Amount

Thursday, September 24 Issuer St Description Amount

Week Of September 21 Issuer St Description Amount

Sep. 24, 2015 Southeast: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Alabama Aa1/AA/AA+ 0.23 1.42 2.2 3.21 Florida Aa1/AAA/AAA 0.25 1.45 2.26 3.27 Georgia Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.23 1.37 2.12 3.1 Kentucky Aa2/AA+/AA+ 0.27 1.51 2.32 3.33 Louisiana Aa2/AA/AA 0.36 1.72 2.57 3.59 Mississippi Aa2/AA/AA+ 0.27 1.5 2.37 3.33 North Carolina Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.23 1.37 2.12 3.11 South Carolina Aaa/AA+/AAA 0.23 1.39 2.15 3.14 Tennessee Aaa/AA+/AAA 0.23 1.38 2.15 3.13 Virginia Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.22 1.36 2.11 3.1 West Virginia Aa1/AA/AA+ 0.26 1.43 2.25 3.26

ARKANSAS

ALABAMA

9/23/2015 9/16/2015 State Iss Amount ($000s) Iss Amount ($000s) Chg in Amt ($000s) Alabama 1 $26,685 1 $9,925 16,760 Florida 7 734,285 8 626,740 107,545 Georgia 2 81,500 1 69,660 11,840 Kentucky 4 35,805 4 29,335 6,470 Louisiana 0 0 0 0 0 Mississippi 1 200,000 1 200,000 0 North Carolina 0 0 1 46,590 -46,590 South Carolina 3 43,940 2 38,130 5,810 Tennessee 3 177,675 2 7,865 169,810 Virginia 2 111,640 3 119,720 -8,080 West Virginia 0 0 2 30,260 -30,260

Government

The Chicago Teachers’ Union warned that the possibility of 5,000 Chicago Public Schools teacher layoffs would create “chaos” and could drive a teachers’ strike.

Rating agencies have restored stable outlooks on the University of North Texas system as UNT prepares to go to market with $222 million of revenue bonds.

Ferguson, Missouri fired back at Moody’s Investors Service for its steep downgrade to junk, accusing the rating agency of being unwilling to give it more time to provide information that would offer a fuller picture.

Public Private Partnerships will become increasingly common beyond the transportation sector in the United States, Moody’s Investors Service said.

Passage of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposed 2016 budget that socks property owners with a record tax increase to fund escalating public safety pension contributions would positively impact the city’s credit profile, Fitch Ratings said.

Interim Rhode Island Treasury chief of staff Jeff Padwa will take the permanent position, state Treasurer Seth Magaziner announced.

The new $500 million arena for the National Basketball Association’s Milwaukee Bucks took a step forward when the city approved its contribution toward a $250 million public funding package.

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker is pushing to use the Alaska Permanent Fund, traditionally used for payouts to Alaska citizens, to help close the state's budget gap.

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation that brings back redevelopment in a limited way, notably by creating new community revitalization investment authorities that can issue tax-increment debt.