News and Information from Bond Buyer

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its financial strength and long-term counterparty credit ratings on Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corp. (MGIC) and MGIC Indemnity Co. (MIC) to BB-plus from BB.

The composite index of Leading Economic Indicators was up 0.9% in October following a revised 0.7% rise in September, first reported as a 0.8% climb, the Conference Board reported Thursday.

The region's manufacturing sector expanded at a faster pace in November, as the general business conditions index soared to its highest reading since December 1993, 40.8 from 20.7 in October, this month's Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business indicates.

Existing home sales rose 1.5% to a seasonally adjusted 5.26 million-unit rate in October from a revised 5.18 million pace the previous month, the National Association of Realtors announced Thursday.

Municipal bond traders will be keeping their eyes on several big deals on Thursday as market activity looks to slow down ahead of upcoming holiday week.

Fitch Ratings said it has upgraded Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative Corporation's (BWPCC, or the cooperative) $57.9 million of outstanding wind project revenue bonds, Berkshire series 1 to A-plus from A.

Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual Housing Starts Sept.: 1.038M Oct.: 1.025M Oct.: 1.009M Building Permits Sept.: 1.031M Oct.: 1.040M Oct.: 1.080M

Nov. 20, 2014 Southeast: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Alabama Aa1/AA/AA+ 0.14 1.22 2.28 3.19 Florida Aa1/AAA/AAA 0.15 1.22 2.32 3.26 Georgia Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.14 1.16 2.19 3.09 Kentucky Aa2/AA+/AA+ 0.16 1.28 2.41 3.34 Louisiana Aa2/AA/AA 0.15 1.3 2.43 3.33 Mississippi Aa2/AA/AA+ 0.16 1.27 2.4 3.3 North Carolina Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.14 1.16 2.19 3.09 South Carolina Aaa/AA+/AAA 0.14 1.17 2.23 3.13 Tennessee Aaa/AA+/AAA 0.14 1.17 2.23 3.12 Virginia Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.14 1.15 2.18 3.08 West Virginia Aa1/AA/AA+ 0.16 1.26 2.4 3.32

11/19/2014 11/12/2014 State Iss Amount ($000s) Iss Amount ($000s) Chg in Amt ($000s) Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 Florida 2 37,655 7 268,990 -231,335 Georgia 4 98,715 3 220,505 -121,790 Kentucky 6 38,940 6 82,195 -43,255 Louisiana 7 273,850 2 283,180 -9,330 Mississippi 1 13,500 1 13,500 0 North Carolina 3 50,665 2 48,295 2,370 South Carolina 1 37,515 2 141,255 -103,740 Tennessee 4 67,860 2 4,440 63,420 Virginia 6 577,375 2 320,245 257,130 West Virginia 1 16,000 0 0 16,000

Thursday, November 20 Issuer St Description Amount

Thursday, November 20 Issuer St Description Amount

Week Of November 17 Issuer St Description Amount

CALIFORNIA

ALABAMA

Total state spending has reached its fastest growth since before the recession, according to a report on state expenditure released Thursday by the National Association of State Budget Officers.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey won a court battle against the Automotive Automobile Association's efforts to block a planned December toll hike.

Government

The Chicago Transit Authority's $1.4 billion 2015 budget won the endorsement of the Civic Federation of Chicago in recognition of the agency's fiscal strides.

Annual income taxes Wisconsin receives from Milwaukee Bucks basketball players and team employees would cover repayment of $150 million of 20-year state general obligation backed bonds for a new stadium, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

Municipal bonds kept an even keel on Wednesday, even as a boatload of new issues hit the primary market, including several deals upwards of $100 million as well as more than 50 smaller transactions.