News and Information from Bond Buyer

Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Dennis Lockhart Thursday maintained his belief that the problems afflicting the economy are more cyclical than structural, but that scaling back asset purchases should be considered "over the coming year."

Initial unemployment claims fell 23,000 to 298,000 in the Nov. 30 week, but that is the Thanksgiving holiday week.

GDP data show a larger-than-expected upward revision to 3.6% growth, a 0.8 point advance from the preliminary report. That is about one and a half times more than the average revision.

Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank President Dennis Lockhart Thursday said he believes it is now appropriate for monetary policymakers to begin considering dialing back the Fed's large scale asset purchases in coming meetings, but stressed that his support for tapering is contingent on continued "positive" evidence of progress and an absence of threats to the recovery on the horizon.

The European Central Bank announced its Governing Council held interest rates at its latest monetary policy meeting Thursday.

Moody's Investors Service raised its outlook on the toll road industry to stable from negative as toll revenues continue a slow but steady recovery.

Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual International Trade Sept.: -$43.0B Oct.: -$40.0B Oct.: -$40.6B New Home Sales Aug.: 379,000 Sept.: 425,000 Sept.: 354,000 New Home Sales Sept.: 354,000 Oct.: 430,000 Oct.: 444,000 ISM Non-Manufacturing Oct.: 55.4 Oct.: 55.1 Oct.: 53.9

Dec. 5, 2013 Southeast: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Alabama Aa1/AA/AA+ 0.19 1.26 2.88 4.34 Florida Aa1/AAA/AAA 0.18 1.24 2.87 4.33 Georgia Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.17 1.17 2.68 4.14 Kentucky Aa2/AA+/AA 0.19 1.28 2.9 4.38 Louisiana Aa2/AA/AA 0.19 1.28 2.89 4.37 Mississippi Aa2/AA/AA+ 0.2 1.28 2.91 4.35 North Carolina Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.17 1.17 2.68 4.14 South Carolina Aaa/AA+/AAA 0.17 1.19 2.7 4.16 Tennessee Aaa/AA+/AAA 0.17 1.17 2.73 4.19 Virginia Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.15 1.17 2.68 4.14 West Virginia Aa1/AA/AA 0.2 1.28 2.92 4.38

12/4/2013 11/27/2013 State Iss Amount ($000s) Iss Amount ($000s) Chg in Amt ($000s) Alabama 0 0 0 0 0 Florida 8 562,940 7 567,500 -4,560 Georgia 6 167,850 7 343,495 -175,645 Kentucky 4 31,490 2 55,025 -23,535 Louisiana 3 74,920 1 6,300 68,620 Mississippi 0 0 2 7,100 -7,100 North Carolina 1 10,000 0 0 10,000 South Carolina 2 87,245 1 77,245 10,000 Tennessee 4 31,125 6 66,535 -35,410 Virginia 2 117,197 2 101,292 15,905 West Virginia 0 0 0 0 0

Thursday, December 5 Issuer St Description Amount

Thursday, December 5 Issuer St Description Amount

Week Of December 2 Issuer St Description Amount

Week Of December 2 Issuer St Description Amount

ARKANSAS

ALABAMA

A Rockland County, N.Y. committee has tried to address most of the concerns of New York deputy comptroller Gabriel Deyo about the county executive's budget.

Lebenthal & Co. said it will begin trading on MuniAxis, its new platform for odd-lot municipal bond transactions, as the market opens on Dec. 12.

A state agency has cleared a 40-year parking lease deal that is one of two centerpiece transactions to the Harrisburg, Pa., financial recovery plan.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will price $150 million of revenue bonds Thursday in its second draw on a $945 million borrowing authorized by voters last year.

Government