News and Information from Bond Buyer

Munis softened Thursday morning, losing some ground to Treasuries as the government bonds steadied after weakening Wednesday.

Tax-exempt money market funds' outflows resumed as $139.5 million trickled out of the funds and total net assets dipped to $270.48 billion in the week ended March 17.

The scandal over a traffic jam on the George Washington Bridge not only damaged Gov. Chris Christie's presidential prospects, it spotlighted the politicization of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, a major municipal bond issuer.

Existing home sales fell 0.4% to a seasonally adjusted 4.60 million-unit rate in February from an unrevised 4.62 million pace the previous month, the National Association of Realtors announced Thursday.

The region's manufacturing sector expanded at a faster pace in March, as the general business conditions index climbed to positive 9.0 from negative 6.3 in February, this month's Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Report on Business indicates.

The composite index of Leading Economic Indicators was up 0.5% in February following a revised 0.1% increase in January, first reported as a 0.3% climb, the Conference Board reported Thursday.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback says legislators should fully comply with a court order to equalize funding between wealthy and poor schools even though it requires "significant" new spending.

Initial jobless claims grew 5,000 to 320,000 in the week ended March 15, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual Current Account Q3: -$96.4B Q4: -$88.0B Q4: -$81.1B

Mar. 20, 2014 Southeast: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Alabama Aa1/AA/AA+ 0.17 1.17 2.64 3.91 Florida Aa1/AAA/AAA 0.15 1.13 2.62 3.9 Georgia Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.15 1.08 2.44 3.71 Kentucky Aa2/AA+/AA 0.17 1.2 2.65 3.93 Louisiana Aa2/AA/AA 0.16 1.2 2.64 3.92 Mississippi Aa2/AA/AA+ 0.17 1.19 2.65 3.89 North Carolina Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.15 1.08 2.44 3.71 South Carolina Aaa/AA+/AAA 0.15 1.1 2.47 3.73 Tennessee Aaa/AA+/AAA 0.15 1.1 2.49 3.76 Virginia Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.13 1.08 2.44 3.71 West Virginia Aa1/AA/AA 0.16 1.2 2.65 3.94

3/19/2014 3/12/2014 State Iss Amount ($000s) Iss Amount ($000s) Chg in Amt ($000s) Alabama 1 $5,930 0 $0 $5,930 Florida 8 504,860 6 345,305 159,555 Georgia 8 855,920 4 140,355 715,565 Kentucky 2 17,925 1 14,300 3,625 Louisiana 2 25,300 0 0 25,300 Mississippi 0 0 0 0 0 North Carolina 0 0 1 38,700 -38,700 South Carolina 0 0 2 20,450 -20,450 Tennessee 5 53,505 2 210,960 -157,455 Virginia 2 138,200 4 207,290 -69,090 West Virginia 0 0 0 0 0

Thursday, March 20 Issuer St Description Amount

Thursday, March 20 Issuer St Description Amount

Week Of March 17 Issuer St Description Amount

Week Of March 17 Issuer St Description Amount

ALASKA

ARIZONA

Moody's Investors Service said that a recent ruling on Nassau County, N.Y. wage freeze was a credit positive for the county.

Government

Municipal bonds sank in value Wednesday after Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen said interest rates may increase in early 2015.