News and Information from Bond Buyer

Municipal bond volume in January dropped 33% from last year to $18 billion in 587 issues, according to Thomson Reuters data.

A number of different types of bonds are likely to be audited in fiscal 2014 as part of the market segment approach to examinations, an Internal Revenue Service official said Friday.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its underlying rating to AA-minus from A-plus on Big Oak Flat-Groveland Unified School District, Calif.'s general obligation bonds.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it raised its long-term rating on the Alaska Municipal Bond Bank's (AMBB) debt outstanding to AA-plus.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said it lowered its long-term rating on the New York State Dormitory Authority's outstanding bonds issued for Pace University to BB-plus from BBB-minus.

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Richard Fisher said the Fed will aid other economies by spurring U.S. growth and focusing on its mandate to ensure full employment and stable prices.

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco President John Williams said the turmoil in emerging markets hasn't altered his forecast that the U.S. economy will improve this year.

The University of Illinois heads to market with a $180 million new money sale that offers investors high grade state-related paper from a credit that has mostly weathered the state's own ratings deterioration.

Citigroup won the bid on $50 million of Tulsa, Okla., general obligation bonds Jan. 30 with a true interest cost of 3.2008%.

A bond panel's wish list for Arlington Independent School District in Texas would cost $663 million.

The operator of Colorado's E-470 toll road will remarket $72.6 million of variable-rate revenue bonds.

The growth of shipping fleets is outstripping demand, leading Moody's Investors Service analysts to slap a negative outlook on U.S. ports for the next 18 months.

Los Angeles city officials said they have found the right person in Anaheim City Manager Marcie Edwards to replace departing Los Angeles Department of Water and Power general manager Ron Nichols.

Moody's dropped the GO bond ratings on Louisiana's St. Charles Parish Hospital District No. 1 below investment grade citing a strained financial position and high debt load.

Yields on municipal bonds showed signs of recovering from a slow week Friday, but continued to underperform Treasuries through the afternoon.

Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan introduced legislation to cut the state's business tax in half as state lawmakers shift their focus in the new legislative session from pension reform to taxes.

New Mayor Bill Peduto wants Pittsburgh to firm up a long-term program of payments in lieu of taxes with the many nonprofit organizations while staying in Pennsylvania's Act 47 program for cities in fiscal distress.

Dealer groups told issuer officials Jan. 30 that they have many unanswered questions under the Securities and Exchange Commission's registration rule, as broker-dealers work to keep municipalities informed about their efforts to comply with the rule before its July 1 effective date.

Municipal bond yields ticked down Friday morning after spending a week losing gains from a month-long rally.