Buy side

Catholic Health Initiatives, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit health care providers, is in danger of a downgrade from S&P Global Ratings after analysts placed its A-minus rating on its negative watch list.

The weekly average yield to maturity of The Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index, which is based on 40 long-term bond prices, rose four basis points to 4.23% in the week ended Nov. 22 from 4.19% in the previous week.

Municipal bond fund flows reversed course as investors pulled cash out at the fastest pace in more than three years, according to weekly Lipper data released late Thursday.

In the week ended Nov. 17, the weekly average yield to maturity of the Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index rose 22 basis points to 4.19% from 3.97% in the previous week. The BB40 Index is based on the price of 40 long-term bonds.

The Federal Trade Commission’s heightened scrutiny and challenge of not-for-profit healthcare mergers may not change much under a Trump administration, law firm Holland & Knight says a report.

As Rep. Devin Nunes joins the executive committee of Trump’s transition team, some state and local officials worry he will gain support for his controversial pension bill next year.

The heightened focus on disclosure in green bonds could inspire better disclosure practices in the larger municipal bond market, S&P Global Ratings said in a report this week.

California's $2 per pack increase on cigarettes is credit negative for tobacco bonds, nationally.

The weekly average yield to maturity of The Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index, which is based on 40 long-term bond prices, rose three basis points to 3.97% in the week ended Nov. 10 from 3.94% in the previous week.

While backers tout the benefits of green bond certification, municipal issuers must examine whether it's the best fit. Concerns include costs, procedural burdens and redundancies.