News and Information from Bond Buyer

Citi hosted the 22nd annual women’s bond club merit award dinner on April 21 in NYC. James Forese co-president of Citigroup and head of Citi’s institutional clients group served as the keynote speaker where 49 women across the finance industry were recognized.

Atlantic City's Casino Reinvestment Development Authority will soon have a new leader after the New Jersey agency's longtime chairman James Kehoe announced on April 21 he is stepping down from the post.

Cook County, Ill. budget director Andrea Gibson is leaving the top county job after four years on the job, board President Toni Preckwinkle announced April 21.

Florida city and county officials worry local powers would be usurped by a bill giving a state agency authority to issue industrial development bonds without their permission.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board has released a study outline for its 100 question multiple-choice municipal advisor representative qualification exam, which will be the first mandatory competency exam for professionals giving bond-related advice to state and local governments.

Participants in municipal bond transactions need to clearly identify, document and disclose potential conflicts of interest in order to avoid potential negative ramifications, the National Federation of Municipal Analysts concluded in a new white paper.

Prices of top-rated municipal bonds were weaker at mid-session, traders said, with yields on some maturities rising by as much as four basis points.

The state auditor both praised and criticized realignment and the health of the prisoners is still under federal receivership.

Gary Binkiewicz, a 35-year veteran in the municipal bond market, has joined R. Seelaus and Co. as a senior vice president and head municipal bond analyst after just over two years at First Southwest, where held the same position.

Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual Existing Home Sales Feb. 4.890M March: 5.030M March: 5.190M

Existing home sales grew 6.1% to a seasonally adjusted 5.19 million-unit rate in March from an upwardly revised 4.89 million pace the previous month, first reported as 4.88 million, the National Association of Realtors announced Wednesday.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it has lowered its long-term rating on the Texas Public Finance Authority Charter School Finance Corp.'s revenue bonds, series 2004A, issued for the School of Excellence in Education (SEE), to BB from BB-plus.

Municipal bond traders are looking forward to another day of hefty issuance with several deals of size on the calendar. And, quite appropriately, on Earth Day, leading Wednesday's slate is the pricing by Goldman, Sachs of Connecticut's $250 million of green bonds.

Connecticut Treasurer Denise Nappier urged lawmakers to pass a bill to use premiums on general obligation bonds to fund previously authorized capital projects.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its underlying rating from credit program to A-plus from A on San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District, Texas' previously issued general obligation debt.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it lowered its underlying rating on Cook County Township High School District No. 205 (Thornton), Ill.'s series 2008 general obligation limited school bonds to A-plus from AA-minus.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it has raised its rating on Seminole County, Fla.'s water and sewer bonds outstanding to AA from AA-minus.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it has raised its underlying rating on Lafayette, La.'s senior-lien combined utility revenue bonds to AA-minus from A-plus, and its rating on the subordinate-lien communications system revenue bonds to A-plus from A.

Apr. 22, 2015 Midwest: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Illinois A3/A+/A+ 0.89 2.57 3.45 4.41 Indiana Aaa/AAA/AA+ 0.19 1.28 2.06 2.96 Iowa Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.19 1.29 2.06 2.96 Michigan Aa2/AA/AA 0.22 1.37 2.22 3.14 Minnesota Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.19 1.25 1.99 2.87 Missouri Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.19 1.23 1.97 2.87 Nebraska NR/AAA/NR 0.19 1.3 2.11 3.04 North Dakota Aa1/AA+/NR 0.2 1.33 2.13 3.04 Ohio Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.21 1.35 2.12 3.03 South Dakota NR/AA+/AA+ 0.21 1.32 2.14 3.06 Wisconsin Aa2/AA/AA 0.22 1.34 2.13 3.04

4/21/2015 4/14/2015 State # Iss Amount ($000) # Iss Amount ($000) Chg in Amt ($000s) Illinois 8 $329,005 14 $157,060 171,945 Indiana 8 74,570 9 78,840 ?4,270 Iowa 8 136,045 11 173,035 ?36,990 Michigan 9 231,910 12 678,075 ?446,165 Minnesota 23 220,490 28 214,570 5,920 Missouri 5 80,475 4 32,675 47,800 Nebraska 0 0 1 65,000 ?65,000 North Dakota 2 35,560 2 12,460 23,100 Ohio 11 542,901 6 243,480 299,421 South Dakota 0 0 0 0 0 Wisconsin 25 174,130 19 193,215 ?19,085