Public finance

KeyBanc Capital Markets added to its fixed income team with the addition of Chris O’Neil and Jeffrey Tucker to the securitized products sale team.

Gov. Chris Christie has cut off state payments to Amtrak.

House Democrats contend that infrastructure project delays result from a lack of funding, not red tape.

Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said creditors of the utility agreed to reduce debt service by $1.5 billion over five years.

Municipal bonds were trading stronger at mid-session as the largest deal of the week hit the municipal bond market.

The drama of the $135 million Moses Lake School construction bond continues.

The largest deal of the week hit the municipal bond market early on Thursday with the institutional pricing of Massachusetts’ general obligation bond offering.

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded $13 billion in Puerto Rico bonds on Wednesday, citing increasing pessimism about recoveries on the bonds.

A federal appeals court upheld a stay on debt-related lawsuits in a key Puerto Rico lawsuit, reversing a lower court decision.

Municipal bonds ended stronger on Wednesday as large deals from issuers in New Jersey and California hit the market.

Wayne County, Mich.’s fiscal chief who played a central role in its financial recovery is leaving to launch a private equity and turnaround firm.

Rebuilding the nation’s transportation infrastructure will require more direct federal funding, experts tell a congressional panel.

Midwestern voters loosened their purse strings to approve Kansas City, Missouri’s $800 million infrastructure referendum but held fast against St. Louis’ public financing request for a new soccer stadium.

Buffalo, N.Y. received an improved credit outlook from two rating agencies ahead of a planned bond sale to address capital improvements.

In the hunt for new revenue, two Southeast governors made proposals that could signal the revival of a taxing mechanism that was widespread in the pre-World War II era.

Hennessey, Okla., Public Schools patrons approved a $15.49 million bond issue Tuesday.

Morningstar has given its “Socially Conscious” designation to the JPMorgan Municipal Income Fund, making it one of the first in the municipal bond space.

Pricing wires for competitive bond offerings

Municipal bonds were stronger at mid-session as more new deals came to market, topped by some large offerings from issuers in New Jersey, California and Pennsylvania.

Municipal bond insurer analysts are rechecking their estimates of potential losses in Puerto Rico after the federal control board approved a 10-year plan that assumes less than 24% of debt coming due will be repaid.