Investments

The Chicago Public Schools ended the week no closer than it started to answering the question of how or if a scheduled pension payment will be made.

The Los Angeles-based fund manager has expanded into debt financing to offer affordable housing developer clients a lower cost of capital.

Separately managed accounts have exploded in the muni market in recent years but high-yield SMAs remain rare.

The rating agency cited a tax cut package enacted by the state last year and uncertainty over federal policies for the outlook revision to stable from positive.

The governor is calling for a freeze on planned cuts to individual and corporate tax rates.

Most of Thursday's issuance came from competitive deals, the largest being the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York with $2 billion-plus and California with $889 billion.

The bonds, which are expected to sell soon, are rated A1 by Moody's Ratings.

Natural disaster disclosure warrants 'a special focus,' NFMA's 2025 chair says.

Mayor Karen Bass and her budget chief say the city faces a $1 billion budget gap and will need to rethink the way Los Angeles operates.

Mesirow's George Barbar said the group's top legislative focus is preserving the municipal bond tax exemption.

As lobbying efforts happen behind the scenes in the House, the ongoing battle over the Washington, D.C., budget is attracting attention from the market and the credit rating agencies who are hedging their bets on a successful outcome.

The series 2025B Black Belt Energy Gas District bonds are rated Baa1 by Moody's Ratings based on Deutsche Bank's key role in the transaction.

Firms like Siebert Williams Shank and Huntington have begun stacking their benches with municipal finance talent amid tax exemption uncertainty.

Judge Laura Taylor Swain also approved the mediators hiring PJT Partners to be their financial advisor.

Wednesday marked the first trading session that saw cuts more than a basis point or two in spots since last week's extended selloff.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is pressing public transit agencies to beef up their commuter safety protocols or lose federal funding while the recently passed continuing resolution raises appropriation levels for the sector by less than a half percent.

The city council approved the private placement of up to $325 million of notes to commence funding for a $1 billion convention center expansion project.

Fitch Ratings cited the San Diego-area health district's ongoing fiscal woes in dropping its rating to B-minus from B and revising its negative watch to a negative outlook.

"If you're an issuer, this is fly-in season," said Jarrod Loadholt, partner at Ice Miller LLP. "Don't hope someone else is going to solve this for you — they're not."

The slowdown of growth in the fourth quarter does not imply there is dwindling demand for munis, said Pat Luby, head of municipal strategy at CreditSights.