News and Information from Bond Buyer

Prices of top-rated municipal bonds finished mixed on Friday, traders said, as yields were unchanged to up by two basis points on the long end. While watching muni yields closely, market professionals will also be looking at another week of heavy issuance, when almost $9 billion of new supply is set to come to market.

Strong overall demand for municipals and opportunities for relatively attractive yields in the new-issue market should propel interest in next week's primary market sized at nearly $9 billion.

The substitution of new letters of credit caused Standard & Poor's to boost the long-term ratings on some Clark County, Nevada airport system subordinate-lien revenue bonds issued for Las Vegas McCarran International Airport.

A Rhode Island Superior Court judge rejected a motion by the state to delay the start of a suit challenging the landmark 2011 pension law as unconstitutional.

California Treasurer John Chiang's hailed the state's "robust" economic recovery in a Los Angeles speech.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it lowered its rating on Hillview, Ky.'s series 2010 general obligation refunding bonds four notches to BB-plus from A-minus.

Standard & Poor's lowered its ratings on the general revenue bonds of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to A-plus from AA-minus because of increased borrowing.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich is pushing lawmakers to continue to chop away at the state's income tax rate, offsetting the loss with an increase in so-called consumption taxes.

New York City public advocate Letitia James has filed a friend of the court brief in support of the Securities and Exchange Commission's pay-to-play restriction on investment advisers, which is under attack in a lawsuit filed by two state Republican parties last year.

The Municipal Bonds for America coalition has sent a letter in support of the tax exemption for municipal bonds to the co-chairs of a Senate Finance Committee tax-reform working group.

The snow and deep freeze that pummeled Massachusetts incapacitated the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, pushing the embarrassed transit agency into a harsh national glare.

Standard & Poor's had more than two times more upgrades than downgrades in 2014.

Michigan lawmakers have sent Gov. Rick Snyder legislation that patches an estimated $420 million current-year shortfall coming from business tax credits.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its underlying rating on Pittsburgh School District, Pa.'s general obligation bonds to A from A-minus.

Triple-A rated Maryland is planning to competitively sell up to $1.268 billion of general obligation bonds on March 4, according to the state treasurer's office.

Prices of top-rated municipal bonds were mixed at mid-session, according to traders, as yields were unchanged to up as much as two basis points in spots.

Municipal bond volume extended its surge in February, once again driven by refundings as issuers continued to take advantage of lower interest rates.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its long-term rating on Howell, Mich.'s existing sewage-backed debt to A-plus from A.

Moody's Investors Service delivered a blow to Chicago, downgrading the city one notch to Baa2 and maintaining a negative outlook, citing daunting pension obligations.