News and Information from Bond Buyer

Plans to issue $39.5 million for a performing arts center bring a downgrade to the Sugar Land Development Corp.

As New York MTA scurries to fund its capital plan, transit advocates debate whether governance is a funding and planning impediment.

Friday morning's market was slow, capping a particularly active week in both the primary and secondary.

Sales of new single-family homes grew 0.2% to a 467,000 seasonally adjusted annual rate in September, according to data released by the Commerce Department Friday.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its rating to BBB from BBB-minus on the California Municipal Finance Authority's series 2007 revenue bonds issued for the Berkeley Student Cooperative (BSC), which legally changed its name from University Students' Cooperative Association in May 2009.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its long-term rating and underlying rating (SPUR) to A from A-minus on Montclair Financing Authority, Calif.'s existing lease revenue bonds issued for Montclair, Calif.

Moody's Investors Service said it has downgraded to Aa2 from Aa1, the city of Omaha, Neb.'s general obligation unlimited tax debt (GOULT) rating.

Moody's Investors Service said it has downgraded to A2 from A1 the rating on Rio Nuevo Multipurpose Facilities District (city of Tucson), Ariz.'s subordinate lien excise tax revenue bonds.

Moody's Investors Service said it has downgraded Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District, Calif.'s approximately $82 million in outstanding general obligation debt to Aa3 from Aa2 and removed the negative outlook.

Daily Economic indicators box Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual Initial Jobless Claims 10/11: 266,000 10/18: 280,000 10/18: 283,000 Continuing Claims 10/4: 2.389M 10/11: 2.380M 10/11: 2.351M Leading Indicators Aug.: unch Sept.: +0.6% Sept.: +0.8%

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Monday, October 27 Issuer St Description Amount

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ALABAMA

Good Shepherd Medical Center faces another possible downgrade on its junk-bond rating from Moody's Investors Service after missing a deadline to sell assets, analysts warned.

Inflows for all municipal bond funds declined by 90.8% as investors pulled money out of long term and high yield funds.

Government

The weekly average yield to maturity of the Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index, which is based on 40 long-term bond prices, rose five basis points the week ending Oct. 23 to 4.33%.