The driving force behind the trend is the overall strength of the economy, according to Fitch Ratings' Michael Rinaldi. Revenue sources for municipalities, such as sales and property taxes, are doing very well. 

The firm violated MSRB Rules G-15 on confirmation, G-8 on books and records and G-27 on supervision, FINRA found.

The SEC has won a partial victory against Choice Advisors and its principal Matthias O'Meara for their role in acting as unregistered brokers and for engaging in a fee-splitting arrangement.

Two rating agencies upgraded Los Angeles Unified School District's bond ahead of multi-billion dollar refunding.

The Basel III Endgame proposal to restructure capital holding levels comes under fire.

The board approved that step at its second quarter board meeting held this week.

John Fleming is pushing back against a proposal in the state Legislature to change the way the state Bond Commission oversees the issuance of debt by cities, counties and local governments and entities.

"We withdrew the rating because we have determined we do not have sufficient information to maintain a forward-looking credit opinion on the city," S&P said.

The amendments add three new scenarios that warrant disclosure under MSRB Rule G-47 on time of trade disclosure.

Federal agencies will be required to simplify Notice of Funding Opportunities as part of a "complete overhaul" of federal financial assistance rules.

The criteria should result in a nearly equal number of upgrades and downgrades in the next half year, according to the rating agency.

S&P Global Ratings revised its outlook on the university's debt to negative a month after Moody's Ratings took similar action as the school faces financial difficulties and management changes.

Representatives from the Securities and Exchange Commission gathered Tuesday to discuss some of their examination priorities and some of the trends they're seeing outside of exams.

Christopher Perillo agreed to settle charges that he improperly had access to study materials during an examination.

John Hallacy of John Hallacy Consulting and Rich Ciccarone, president emeritus of Merritt Research Services, talk with Chip Barnett about the municipal bond business over the past 40 years. They take a look back at where the industry has been, where it is and where it will be going.

Rating agency cited built up reserves as a key to the city's "better financial footing."

Under the proposed deal, the city would sell $650 million of judgment bonds to fund back pay for firefighters, whose wages would increase by up to 34% over the life of a new five-year contract.

Moody's Ratings hiked Detroit's issuer and general obligation unlimited tax bond ratings to Baa2 from Ba1, a milestone for the formerly bankrupt city.

The new rules are expected to boost bond issuance.

California State Controller Malia Cohen says her office will get the release of the state's ACFR back on track within two years.