News and Information from Bond Buyer

The Securities and Exchange Commission is seeking public comments on the collection of disclosure information under its Rule 15c2-12, but may get proposed revisions to the rule and criticism that its estimated burdens for compliance are unrealistically low, some sources said.

Municipal bond traders saw the last of this month’s issuance come to market on Tuesday with the biggest deal of the week pricing – the $265 million Illinois State Toll Highway Authority bonds.

If San Bernardino follows Stockton and Vallejo's example by impairing its bond creditors, it consolidates a pattern in California Chapter 9 cases in which pensions fare better than lease-backed and pension-obligated bondholders.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said its ratings and outlooks on New Jersey (A/stable general obligation; A-minus/stable appropriation; and BBB/stable moral obligation) incorporate the effects of New Jersey's weak pension funding.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its long-term rating and underlying rating (SPUR) to A-plus from A on Marble Falls, Texas' general obligation debt.

Upgrading regional freight infrastructure would provide economic benefits, according to report from Brookings and JPMorgan Chase.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it lowered its rating on North Haledon, N.J.'s outstanding general obligation (GO) bonds to AA-minus from AA.

The Treasury Department auctioned $35 billion of five-year notes, with a 1 1/2% coupon, a 1.595% high yield, a price of 99.545394.

Standard & Poor's promoted Tina Morris to head of U.S. public finance on Tuesday, according to an internal memo The Bond Buyer obtained.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it lowered its long-term rating to A-plus from AA-minus on Cook County School District No. 127.5 (Chicago Ridge), Ill.'s existing general obligation debt.

Municipal bond traders saw the last of the week's issuance come to market on Tuesday as two big deals from Illinois were scheduled to be priced and a smaller issue from New Jersey was sold in a competitive offering.

Following the failure of a local ballot measure to increase its sales tax rate, Marysville, Calif. was downgraded to Baa1 from A3 by Moody's Investors Service.

The National Federation of Municipal Analysts has announced the first winners of its Peter Fugiel Scholarships – Eric Reese and Scarlett Swerdlow.

On Tuesday morning several Federal Bureau of Investigation agents raided the headquarters of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority.

The recent closure of two Atlantic City casinos is a credit negative for the seaside city and New Jersey's Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), Moody's Investors Service said on Nov. 24.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it has raised its rating on Seguin, Texas' combined utility system revenue debt to A-plus from A.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $13 billion of one-year 11-month floating rate notes with a high discount margin of 0.068%, at a 0.053% spread, a price of par.

The Treasury Department Tuesday auctioned $40 billion of four-week bills at a 0.060% high yield, a price of 99.995333.

Are some tax-exempt bond issuers incurring unnecessary costs and unexpected risks by over-relying on traditional fixed rate debt?