Public finance

As state and local governments are charged with funding 3/4ths of the country's infrastructure, the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles highlight even more the municipal bond market's vital role in keeping the U.S. competitive globally and maintaining the heart of fiscal federalism at home.

The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust has seen higher demand from local utilities for loans because of climate change threats and clean water regulations. 

Issuance for next week falls to an estimated $5.151 billion, with $3.959 billion of negotiated deals and $1.193 billion of competitive deals on tap.

The muni veteran's friends remember him as a "connector," with a boundless ability to form relationships. 

Ongoing work to potentially simplify the new issue disclosure submission process and discussion of dealer supervisory obligations will be among topics on deck at the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board's upcoming quarterly board meeting.

Bondholders say the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau is legally required to set rates to cover all bond principal and pre- and post-petition interest due. The board disagrees.

The municipal bond market's initial negative reaction to this month's Southern California wildfires has eased, with secondary spreads starting to tighten.

The agency's figures represent the most actions filed in their respective periods since at least 2000.

Investors added $2.028 billion to municipal bond mutual funds in the week ending Wednesday, following $251.7 million of outflows the prior week, according to LSEG Lipper data.

Chicago plans to sell roughly $830 million of general obligation bonds to finance its 2024-28 capital improvement plan, according to the city's finance team.