Public finance

The National Association of Bond Lawyers has a new president.

The topic is here to stay, even as sentiment around its value shifts. One clear constant: the desire for a standard language.

Municipal mutual fund losses continued last week as the Investment Company Institute reporting investors pulled $2.645 billion from the funds in the week ending Oct. 11. ETFs see more inflows, though.

Georgia Power and Oglethorpe Power agreed to new terms for cost overruns on two new Plant Vogtle nuclear reactors.

The $500 million of revenue bonds to initially finance a $5 billion controversial expansion program were priced amid a turbulent market.

The study confirms the Bay is one of the most valuable in Florida, says Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

The city plans to sell as much as $295 million of general obligation and revenue bonds in two deals next month.

The deal is expected to be executed Dec. 14, putting four government-run tollways under Albertis Infraestructuras SA, which already runs Puerto Rico toll roads.

Munis are now following along with broader Treasury market weakness, and "at the same time are also attempting to manage some of the healthiest issuance that we've seen this year," said Morgan Stanley's Matthew Gastall.

Fishers, a suburb of Indianapolis, is selling $170 million of bonds for an arena to house the minor-league Indy Fuel and to host concerts and other events.

The commonwealth revamped its P3 law last year in the wake of a court ruling striking down a tolled bridge program.

California received a negative outlook from the rating agency in May amid revenue uncertainty. The Public Works Board lease revenue bonds are rated Aa3.

They say the plan is unconfirmable in its current form and must be changed before any disclosure statement is approved.

The top two municipal bond insurers wrapped $22.814 billion in the first three quarters of 2023, a slight dip of 0.5% from the $22.929 billion of deals done over the same period in 2022, according to Refinitiv data.

Royden Durham and Tony Tanner, portfolio managers at the Aquila group of funds, talk with Chip Barnett about what's special about Kentucky and Arizona -- what's the same and what's different -- within their municipal bond markets. (18 minutes)

"The combination of higher yields and this week's heavier new-issue calendar will attract attention from income-focused individual investors as well as from institutional investors who are underweight munis," said CreditSights strategists Pat Luby and Sam Berzok.

As the program inches through the federal appropriation process, Texas lawmakers have allocated state funds and created a five-county district with taxing power.

Current interest rates offer arbitrage opportunities and challenges to bond issuers.

Panelists at this year's GFOA Minimuni Conference remarked on how difficult an environment it is for issuers and why recognizing this is essential for voluntary disclosure.

As valuations got richer after muni outperformance this week, Barclays strategists expect munis to be "truly tested in the next several weeks, with supply picking up."