Investments

Nearly half of America's private colleges and universities reported negative operating margins in fiscal year 2023, and the trend was even worse in the Midwest.

The number of distressed charter schools rose to a record in the beginning of 2024 as the sector struggles with the end of pandemic assistance and rising costs.

The consumer price index number further complicates market expectations of Fed rate cuts and muni investors may want "to keep their powder dry" until they have a better idea of the Fed's timing, said CreditSights' Pat Luby.

The MSRB requested information about the challenges facing small firms the firms have not held back in citing what they view as a difficult regulatory environment.

The value of the fund rose from the $246.3 billion reported in the second quarter while returns improved to 6.18% in the third quarter from negative 1.59% in the prior period.

Maura Healey's budget plan for fiscal 2025 features more money for the Commonwealth Transportation Fund, which would increase its bond capacity by $1.1 billion.

The state faces slower job growth after gains in the previous three years outpaced the nation, according to the Dallas Federal Reserve's Texas economic outlook.

If the appeals court overrules parts of her decision, Judge Swain said she is "capable of adapting and reacting appropriately."

The muni market will see "continued strength," said Wesly Pate, senior portfolio manager at Income Research + Management, largely due to a a dearth of new-issue supply.

The sale of the bonds allowed ACTA to reshape its debt service profile and avoid projected debt service shortfalls by refunding into capital appreciation bonds and extending maturity dates.

A plan to build a new arena in Virginia accommodating two major league sports faces opposition both locally and from the teams' current home in Washington.

A new regulation requiring state and local transportation departments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would limit spending flexibility, opponents say.

Oklahoma is on a roll, notching its third positive rating outlook since July with the latest move coming from Fitch Ratings.

As Texas' governor starts busing migrants to Illinois suburbs, social services agency and public safety budgets are likely to see some strain.

This volatility can be seen in the whipsawing figures from the SIFMA Municipal Swap Index Yield over the past few months, but in January in particular.

Josh Shapiro proposed sweeping changes to Pennsylvania's K-12 and higher education systems and $500 million of borrowing for his economic development plan.

The Federal Reserve expects to cut interest rates three times this year, some say as early as March, if data alllow those moves. Following the Jan. 30-31 FOMC meeting, Garrett Melson, portfolio strategist at Natixis Investment Managers Solutions, will provide his take on the meeting and Chair Jerome Powell's press conference.

"Even though it is hard to see the market falling out of bed and underperforming in the near term, we are more cautious going into March," Barclays PLC said in a report.

A majority of those polled at The Bond Buyer's 2024 National Outlook Conference also felt issuance would increase moderately this year, to between $400 billion and $450 billion.

The honeymoon phase for generic ESG declarations is over, market participants said at the 2024 National Outlook Conference, as a dynamic focused on data and credit analysis is beginning to emerge.