Buy side

A Bond Buyer slideshow pairs charts of key interest rate related metrics with comments from municipal analysts and strategists, as policy makers again meet to consider whether to lift the benchmark rate a second time eight years after the financial crisis.

Green municipal bond issuance increased by almost half in 2015, with water infrastructure making up the biggest chunk of the bond sales, according to a new report.

The weekly average yield to maturity of The Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index, which is based on 40 long-term bond prices, increased four basis points to 3.80% from 3.76% in the previous week.

The rapid increase in refundings for public power and water utilities will likely slow as interest rates are expected to rise through 2018, according to Fitch Ratings. Moody's Investors Service sees a stable operating environment amid low natural gas prices.

Many of the largest state pension plans averaged less than 1% returns for the fiscal year ended June 30, most likely leading to a national trend of depressed funding ratios and increasing pressure on states to fund those pensions, S&P Global Ratings said Monday.

Jefferies said it received good demand for the $292.26 million of tobacco settlement pass-through bonds it priced for the New York Counties Tobacco Trust VI.

Muni bond broker Matthew Picerno, who perished in the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center, had a larger than life personality that was evident at his job at Cantor Fitzgerald, and within his family and home life.

In the week ended Sept. 8, the weekly average yield to maturity of the Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index rose two basis points to 3.76% from 3.74% in the previous week. The BB40 Index is based on the price of 40 long-term bonds.

The weekly average yield to maturity of The Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index, which is based on 40 long-term bond prices, decreased one basis point to 3.74% from 3.75% in the previous week.

PFM Asset Management LLC is celebrating its tenth year of providing clients with multi-asset class management services.

The largest African-American, Latino and woman-owned investment bank in the United States has changed its name to Siebert Cisneros Shank & Co., LLC, effective Monday, to reflect its ownership structure.

In the week ended Aug. 25, the weekly average yield to maturity of the Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index fell one basis point to 3.75% from 3.76% in the previous week. The BB40 Index is based on the price of 40 long-term bonds.

Illinois’ largest retirement fund will review its assumed investment rate Friday amid a warning from Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration that lowering it from 7.5% could have a “devastating” impact on funding for social services and education.

The transportation and utilities sectors grew by $7.9 billion in the first half of 2016 from a year earlier.

Short-term note issuance could continue to increase as the market awaits the Federal Reserve Board's eventual move to higher rates.

A California state appeals court ruling may open the window for governments to change the future benefits of existing employees.

The federal Bureau of Prisons' phase out of private prisons has only a small effect on the municipal bond-financed private lockup sector, leaving bond-financed immigration detention centers untouched.

Disappointing public pension investment fund returns released recently by Maryland and Virginia may be representative of a more nationwide trend, pension experts warned.

The weekly average yield to maturity of The Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index, which is based on 40 long-term bond prices, decreased four basis points to 3.76% from 3.80% in the previous week.

Issuers say they have recently been delivering deals with 4%-or-less coupons to meet growing demand for cost-efficiency in the low yield climate.