Investments

In a move to increase its public finance business, bond insurer Assured Guaranty has hired three senior professionals.

Rep. Bill Shuster, R- Pa., announced on Thursday his candidacy to serve as chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

The re-election of President Obama is a credit neutral event for non-profit hospitals, but looming changes in the federal landscape tied to the new health care law and budget deficit, present challenges, Moody's Investors Service said in a report Wednesday.

John Horsley and Jack Basso will take about 90 years of experience with them when they retire from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in February, and the two are disappointed to be stepping away from a very uncertain future.

Hawaii Finance Director Kalbert Young is concerned that other bond sales rescheduled after Hurricane Sandy could impact the Aloha State's $900 million sale planned for next week.

Peter M. Demirali, 52, of Mendham, N.J., a managing director at Cumberland Advisors, died suddenly on October 30, and a memorial service is planned for Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. in Queens, N.Y.

ALABAMA

ARKANSAS

Bond insurer parent company MBIA Inc. had an adjusted pre-tax loss of $118 million in the third quarter of 2012.

Overwhelming uncertainty surrounding the U.S. elections stands as the most likely cause industry watchers cite behind the first outflows municipal bond mutual funds reported in more than six months.

CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA

New York's MTA, restoring its subway and commuter rail systems after Hurricane Sandy's damage, will continue its flurry of bond activity this week.

IOWA

GEORGIA

State colleges and universities in Arkansas will ask the 2013 General Assembly for an additional $137 million in fiscal 2014.

Arizona State University halted talks about joining the city of Mesa and the Chicago Cubs on a new baseball facility being built with $84 million of general obligation bonds.

More than 40% of states have poor pension funding ratios, Morningstar municipal credit researcher Rachel Barkley said.

Municipal bond volume saw a slight bump for the month of October, continuing what has been an upward path for the issuance of new muni debt in 2012. Long-term muni bond issuance last month rose 3%, and has increased 39% for the year to date.

New York City Housing Development Corp. president Marc Jahr has been tapped as the chairman of the interim executive committee of Municipal Bonds for America, a coalition formed to stave off threats to tax exemption.