Investments

ARIZONA

More city finance officers reported improved fiscal conditions in fiscal 2014 than in the 29-year history of the National League of Cities' city fiscal conditions survey. However, the cities are still not fully recovered from the economic recession, the NLC said in its report on the survey.

Attorneys for bankrupt Detroit and bond insurer Financial Guaranty Insurance Co. said in court that they plan to finalize an agreement by Thursday, a move that would mean the city would have support from all major creditors for its bankruptcy exit plan.

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew says there is a growing bipartisan consensus in Congress on long-term federal transportation spending.

Triet Nguyen and Chris Foster discuss their quantitative approach to munis, how they are getting cross-over investors interested in municipal bonds, and why they are looking at the military housing sector.

CALIFORNIA

ALABAMA

State debt issuance has been below average and is likely to remain restrained in the near future despite the fact that infrastructure needs are large, Standard and Poor's said in a report released Monday.

More than $6 billion of long-term new issuance is expected to arrive in the primary market this week, led by a $1.1 billion New York State Dormitory Authority financing that should be highly sought-after by supply hungry investors, municipal traders said on Friday.

The new regional authority taking over Detroit's Water and Sewerage Department should be a positive for holders of existing DWSD debt, Moody's Investors Service said Friday.

A deal to create a new bond-issuing authority to take over the troubled Detroit Water and Sewerage Department advanced this week with the remaining counties approving the plan.

Other Post Employment Benefit liabilities, particularly retiree healthcare, could overtake pension liabilities as an issue for municipalities and investors,

Half the states are trying to minimize the impact of climate change on public infrastructure but others are far behind, the Georgetown Climate Center said.

ARKANSAS

ARIZONA

The weekly average yield to maturity of the Bond Buyer Municipal Bond Index, which is based on 40 long-term bond prices, dropped three basis points in the week ending Oct. 9 to 4.37%.

Inflows into municipal mutual funds more than tripled this week.

Sen. Barbara Boxer wants action in the House on her proposals to revive the chronically insolvent Highway Trust Fund.

Public infrastructure agencies need to aware of the long-term credit risks before issuing 100-year bonds, Moody's warns in new report.

While younger investors are often risk-takers seeking high returns in the fast-paced equity market, owning municipal bonds can be an important part of a young entrepreneur's investment portfolio, municipal strategists said.