News and Information from Bond Buyer

Industrial production dropped 0.6% in March, the Federal Reserve reported Wednesday.

The Federal Open Market Committee could start raising rates "now," Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said Wednesday.

The Empire State Manufacturing Survey showed "business activity was flat for New York manufacturers," the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported Wednesday, as the general business conditions index slipped to negative 1.19 in April from positive 6.90 in March.

The European Central Bank announced its Governing Council held interest rates at its latest monetary policy meeting Wednesday.

Apr. 15, 2015 Southwest: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Arizona Aa3/AA+/NR 0.24 1.38 2.27 3.16 Arkansas Aa1/AA/NR 0.19 1.27 2.06 2.94 Colorado Aa1/AA/NR 0.21 1.33 2.15 3.06 Kansas Aa1/AA+/NR 0.19 1.31 2.14 3.02 New Mexico Aaa/AA+/NR 0.19 1.28 2.06 2.95 Oklahoma Aa2/AA+/AA+ 0.22 1.34 2.17 3.06 Texas Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.21 1.29 2.12 3 Utah Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.19 1.21 1.97 2.84

4/13/2015 4/6/2015 State Amount ($000s) Iss Amount ($000s) Chg in Amt ($000s) Arizona 2 $74,785 3 $47,255 $27,530 Arkansas 8 62,665 7 97,610 -34,945 Colorado 3 282,780 1 250,000 32,780 Kansas 1 61,345 8 108,260 -46,915 New Mexico 5 75,080 1 16,540 58,540 Oklahoma 16 63,685 17 39,160 24,525 Texas 52 1,231,688 50 1,828,444 -596,756 Utah 1 61,710 0 0 61,710

Wednesday, April 15 Issuer St Description Amount

Wednesday, April 15 Issuer St Description Amount

Week Of April 13 Issuer St Description Amount

Week Of April 13 Issuer St Description Amount

ARKANSAS

ALABAMA

Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority chief restructuring officer Lisa Donahue said she has not made a decision yet about whether she will seek a restructuring of the authority’s debt.

Government

Lower pump prices are boosting fuel consumption and vehicle miles traveled, leading to higher gas tax collections, a trend Moody’s Investors Service expects to continue over the near-term.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has tapped an Illinois banker -- Rob Funderburg -- to lead the Illinois Finance Authority board.

Prices of top-rated municipal bonds closed stronger, according to traders, as yields on some maturities fell by two basis points on the intermediate and long ends. In the primary market, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the New York City Transitional Finance Authority deals were priced for retail investors.

Tax reform proposals to curb tax exemption for municipal securities would create uncertainty in the market, possibly lead to higher borrowing costs, and hurt infrastructure development, issuer and borrower groups warned a Senate Finance Committee working group this week.

Municipalities are getting themselves into trouble by borrowing to cover operating deficits, Federal Reserve Bank of New York president and chief executive officer William Dudley told attendees at a closed-doors workshop Tuesday.

First Southern Securities LLC, the Alpharetta, Ga.-based boutique investment banking firm, added four new professionals as part of its expansion effort.