News and Information from Bond Buyer

Deals for the coming holiday-shortened week are looking scarce, after a sell-off toward the end of last week. Traders said some issuers may have thrown in the towel until the New Year after interest rates spiked on Thursday.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn tapped his longtime friend, aide, and acting budget director Jerry Stermer to serve out the waning weeks of the late Judy Baar Topinka's term as comptroller.

Government

The municipal market followed Treasuries to slightly firmer ground at the close of trading on Friday, regaining some of the losses from Thursday’s volatile market, traders said.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has declared the financial emergency in Hamtramck resolved and put a Receivership Transition Advisory Board in place to help keep the city on a sound fiscal path as it transitions to independence.

The Los Angeles World Airports board of commissioners has approved its piece of a plan to connect Los Angeles International Airport to the city' light rail and subway system.

A sales tax hike to support $1.7 billion in annual transportation and education funding will go before Michigan voters under a plan lawmakers approved in a compromise with Gov. Rick Snyder.

The St. Petersburg, Fla. City Council rejected a proposal that would have allowed the Tampa Bay Rays to look for a new stadium site elsewhere in the region.

Alan Anders, who has spearheaded New York City's bond financing programs for nearly a quarter century, will be honored with The Bond Buyer's inaugural "Jim Lebenthal Infrastructure Champion" award next month.

The municipal market showed a little stability at midday Friday but still displayed an overall lack of focus and continued its quiet tone as trading was limited heading into the holiday next week, traders said.

Former high-level athletes, such as New York Giants Super Bowl champion Phil McConkey, talk about sports experiences ranging from Rose Bowl to Wembley, and reflect on how their experiences on the field help them today in finance careers.

Municipal bond groups are seeking federal appeals court guidance in a ratepayer appeal of part of Jefferson County, Ala.'s Chapter 9 bankruptcy plan, saying the district court decision allowing a challenge of the plan threatens to undermine market stability.

Litigation challenging Chicago's pension reform legislation threatens the city's ability to escape $19 billion of unfunded liabilities, Fitch Ratings said.

Former high-level athletes, such as New York Giants Super Bowl champion Phil McConkey, talk about sports experiences ranging from Rose Bowl to Wembley, and reflect on how their experiences on the field help them today in finance careers.

The municipal market opened with a steady tone and light trading after yesterday’s volatility that put a heavy cloud above the market heading the holiday.

Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual Initial Jobless Claims 12/6: 294,000 12/13: 295,000 12/13: 289,000 Continuing Claims 11/29: 2.514M 12/6: 2.440M 12/6: 2.373M Philly Fed Manufacturing Nov.: 40.8 Dec.: 27.0 Dec.: 24.5 Leading Indicators Oct.: +0.9% Nov.: +0.5% Nov.: +0.6%

Dec. 19, 2014 Far West: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Alaska Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.14 1.23 2.04 2.92 California Aa3/A/A 0.16 1.31 2.23 3.15 Hawaii Aa2/AA/AA 0.15 1.32 2.19 3.08 Idaho Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.14 1.34 2.19 3.09 Montana Aa1/AA/AA+ 0.14 1.31 2.19 3.09 Nevada Aa2/AA/AA+ 0.17 1.35 2.22 3.12 Oregon Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.14 1.26 2.09 2.97 Washington Aa1/AA+/AA+ 0.15 1.33 2.18 3.11 Wyoming NR/AAA/NR 0.14 1.3 2.09 2.97

12/18/2014 12/11/2014 State # Iss Amount ($000) # Iss Amount ($000) Chg in Amt ($000) Alaska 0 0 1 20,090 -20,090 California 4 100,120 12 580,465 -480,345 Hawaii 0 0 0 0 0 Idaho 0 0 1 3,845 -3,845 Montana 0 0 1 20,000 -20,000 Nevada 0 0 0 0 0 Oregon 0 0 2 206,540 -206,540 Washington 5 752,125 8 773,710 -21,585 Wyoming 0 0 0 0 0

Friday, December 19 Issuer St Description Amount