Bond insurance

The par amount of insured debt decreased in the first half of 2017 but the percentage of bonds issued that carry insurance climbed.

Bond insurers and legal counsel battled for share of a smaller market as Assured Guaranty and Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP stayed atop the rankings.

The district priced debt Thursday at narrower spreads than it faced in a November sale.

Build America Mutual's Les Richmond said that state and local governments might want to consider their disclosure obligations in the light of the more robust risk assessments they'll soon begin getting from their actuaries.

The top players maintained their positions atop the league tables, building their shares of a shrinking market.

Build America Mutual, the only mutual insurer of U.S. municipal bonds, has a collateralized reinsurance agreement with Fidus Re Ltd. that will also add to its internal growth.

A federal judge dismissed a suit over Buena Vista’s bonds, but an appeal will put the city's moral obligation pledge on trial again.

The insurer wants more time to develop land it received as part of the city's bankruptcy exit.

Assured is pursuing a strategy of investment beyond its core financial guaranty business, to diversify revenue sources.

Assured said its fourth-quarter profit fell on lower earnings from bond refunding and a one-time effect of the new tax law, even as the company's share value surged to record levels.