Buy side

The Bond Buyer's weekly yield indexes declined the week ended September 19.

A Financial Industry Regulatory Authority arbitration panel has ruled against The Police and Fire Retirement System of the City of Detroit, which was seeking at least $39.9 million from Citigroup Global Markets, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and other firms over risky investments.

Outflows resumed for tax-exempt money market funds, which lost $619.5 million in the week ended Sept. 16, according to The Money Fund Report, a service of iMoneyNet.com.

The Please Touch Museum of Philadelphia defaulted on almost $59 million in bonds. The children's museum says it needs a workout.

Tradeweb Markets agreed to buy BondDesk Group LLC in a move that would combine two operators of alternative trading systems that serve the municipal bond market, among other fixed income marketplaces.

Less than half of state pension plans met Morningstar Inc.'s threshold for healthy status in 2012 with Wisconsin again ranking the strongest and Illinois the weakest.

Municipal bond pros are slashing their forecasts for long-term issuance this year, saying the industry is likely to shrink after climbing interest rates curtailed demand for refundings.

Warren Buffett's bond insurance firm Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corp. made its first appearance in the Detroit bankruptcy as the city filed objections to creditors' requests.

With the FOMC meeting looming, municipalities have curtailed long-term bond issuance to just over $3 billion this week while they wait to see if the Fed tapers.

The municipal bond market rally failed to encourage investors, who pulled a net $1.90 billion from muni bond mutual funds for the week ending Sept. 11.

The tax-exempt market made gains in every session this week as buyers became more confident about participating in the market as the week progressed.

The Bond Buyer's weekly yield indexes declined the week ended September 12.

A bankruptcy judge confirmed American Airlines’ reorganization plan but its exit from Chapter 11 depends on resolution of the antitrust lawsuit against its merger with US Airways Group.

Nine states prevailed in arbitration with the tobacco companies in a dispute over the 1998 master tobacco settlement, providing a boost for those with outstanding tobacco bonds.

A new Standard & Poor's local methodology is expected to lead to changed ratings for 40% of issuers in a review that will start with the largest 48.

Tax-exempt money market funds saw $1.92 billion of net inflows in the week ended Sept. 9.

Bond insurer Syncora Guarantee, Inc. will appeal a recent decision by federal Judge Steven Rhodes in Detroit’s bankruptcy, marking the first appeal in the case.

Municipal managers are making last minute adjustments to their holdings in anticipation that the Federal Open Market Committee's meeting next week will mark the beginning of the end to the Federal Reserve's bond buying program.

A $495 million competitive sale of Arkansas general obligation bonds will lead primary market activity this week as long-term volume increases after last week’s holiday lull.

The municipal bond market took direction from secondary trades and Treasuries this week as a light new-issue calendar took a back seat.