News and Information from Bond Buyer

The Society for New Communications Research has given the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board an “Excellence in New Communications Award” for a series of educational videos.

The municipal bond market traded firmer Thursday morning, following a stronger Treasury market, as Janet Yellen spoke in front of the Senate Banking Committee during the confirmation hearing for her nomination as Federal Reserve chair.

The total net assets of tax-exempt money market funds declined by $1.32 billion to $263.26 billion in the week ended Nov. 11, as they gave up most of the prior week's gains.

The Treasury Department said it will auction $13 billion 9-year 8-month inflation-protected notes on Thursday, Nov. 21.

The Treasury Department said Thursday it will auction $32 billion 91-day bills and $28 billion 182-day discount bills Monday.

Rhode Island municipalities are shifting retirees onto new health-care exchanges, reducing benefits and raising employee co-pays to curb soaring costs, Moody's said in a report.

Cook County, Ill., heads to market as soon as next week with a new bond team selected out of the county's newly assembled, three-year bond team pool.

The public expects too much from the Federal Reserve, particularly monetary policy, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President and Chief Executive Officer Charles I. Plosser said Thursday.

Preliminary Q3 nonfarm productivity was reported up 1.9%, after a 1.8% increase in Q2, and near the 1.5% 2012 gain.

The U.S. September trade deficit was wider than expected at a $41.8 billion shortfall, with exports down $400 million and imports up $2.7 billion on the back of higher oil pricing and consumer demand.

Initial jobless claims dropped 2,000 to 339,000 in the week ended November 9, the Labor Department said Thursday.

Federal Reserve Vice Chair Janet Yellen will not give many clues as to distinctions between her and current Chair Ben Bernanke when she testifies before Congress Thursday morning, but she does pledge to continue the work of the central bank to "promote a more robust recovery."

Comfortable talking with economic teachers, Federal Reserve Board Chair Ben Bernanke was frank in his assessment of the economy Wednesday, saying the Fed had done quite a bit to help the recovery but that it is important that the central bank continues its efforts to lower the unemployment rate.

Indicator Last Report Forecast Actual Treasury Budget Sept.: +$75.1B Oct.: -$104.0B Oct.: -$91.6B

Nov. 14, 2013 Southeast: Plain/Insured GO Yield Curve* State Ratings One-Year Five-Year 10-Year 30-Year Alabama Aa1/AA/AA+ 0.2 1.26 2.82 4.36 Florida Aa1/AAA/AAA 0.19 1.23 2.81 4.35 Georgia Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.18 1.17 2.62 4.16 Kentucky Aa2/AA+/AA 0.2 1.28 2.84 4.4 Louisiana Aa2/AA/AA 0.2 1.28 2.86 4.4 Mississippi Aa2/AA/AA+ 0.21 1.28 2.85 4.38 North Carolina Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.18 1.17 2.62 4.16 South Carolina Aaa/AA+/AAA 0.18 1.2 2.65 4.19 Tennessee Aaa/AA+/AAA 0.18 1.19 2.67 4.21 Virginia Aaa/AAA/AAA 0.16 1.17 2.62 4.16 West Virginia Aa1/AA/AA 0.21 1.28 2.86 4.41

11/13/2013 11/6/2013 State Iss Amount ($000s) Iss Amount ($000s) Chg in Amt ($000s) Alabama 0 $0 2 $102,080 -$102,080 Florida 11 731,550 5 106,445 625,105 Georgia 5 341,345 6 382,175 -40,830 Kentucky 2 37,255 6 156,490 -119,235 Louisiana 2 44,390 2 72,100 -27,710 Mississippi 3 345,730 0 0 345,730 North Carolina 0 0 0 0 0 South Carolina 2 101,495 1 15,995 85,500 Tennessee 2 5,680 2 151,465 -145,785 Virginia 2 322,885 2 26,150 296,735 West Virginia 0 0 1 6,695 -6,695

Thursday, November 14 Issuer St Description Amount

Thursday, November 14 Issuer St Description Amount

Week Of November 12 Issuer St Description Amount

Week Of November 12 Issuer St Description Amount