Subject Root Tag

Municipal bonds were trading firmer Thursday as the last of the week's big deals came to market.

HJ Sims Managing Director Puerto Rico German Ramirez de Arellano and Senior Vice President Richard Prann talk from the Commonwealth about the situation on the island, both in terms of the financial and the human costs. Chip Barnett hosts.

Construction spending was flat in January, falling short of the expected 0.3% gain.

According to the ISM's monthly report on business, the ISM index increased to 60.8 in February from 59.1 in January.

Initial claims U.S. state unemployment benefits fell by 10,000 to 210,000 in the February 24 holiday week.

Personal income rose 0.4% in January, while nominal PCE was up 0.2% and the core PCE price index rose 0.3% in the month.

A state-by-state review of 2017 issuance in the Southeast.

Rick Witte, former head of public finance for Andrews Kurth Kenyon, is among those making the move from that firm.

The 29% tax exposure rate is up for a readjustment because the new tax bill slashed the corporate tax rate to 21% from 35% and also lowered individual tax rates.

Improved reserves led Moody's to raise the county one notch to A3.

Municipal bond buyers welcomed several big deals on Wednesday as demand outpaced new bond supply.

Chicago is seeking $4 billion in initial borrowing authority to launch its overhaul of the airport's terminals.

The light month for long-term municipal bond volume is another ripple effect of the new tax law and the issuance rush leading up to its enactment.

Rep. Bill Shuster says a federal gas tax hike is the only way to pay for an infrastructure bill and that Congress could vote on legislation after the November elections.

"We have to find new solutions," said Partnership for New York president Kathryn Wylde.

Rosselló is seeking assistance from Congressional leaders as Puerto Rico struggles to get on its feet financially five months after Hurricane Maria.

Issuers across the Southeast sold $68.5 billion of bonds in 2017, a 5.8% year-over-year decrease.

Playing a waiting game on Wednesday, portfolio managers were looking for volume to normalize.

Pending home sales plunged 4.7% to an index reading of 104.6 in January, from a downwardly revised 109.8 in December.

The Chicago Business Barometer declined to 61.9 in February from 65.7 in January.