Sell side

The region's municipal bond industry insiders saw a silver lining in a 21% increase for new money volume.

Following a late-2017 rush to market of advance refundings and private-activity bonds in the run-up to the implementation of new tax legislation, supply in 2018 -- particularly refunding issuance -- suffered a steep decline.

Issuers in the Northeast sold $95.5 billion of municipal bonds in 2018, off 21.3% from 2017 with an even more pronounced fourth-quarter drop.

The Minnesota-based advisory firm undertook a brand makeover designed to highlight its comprehensive suite of services.

Texas bond volume hit an eight-year low in 2018, but industry experts gathering for The Bond Buyer's annual Austin event are optimistic about the long run.

The southern regional banks wouldn't say what will happen with their capital financing divisions when their merger closes.

Enright, who died of bone cancer at 72, held fiscal positions with local governments before starting a nearly 30-year investment banking career.

PFM says the acquisition will broaden its reach into special districts and land-secured municipal financings in Florida and across the country.

Shields, fired by Wells Fargo in December, joined Loop Capital Markets LLC as a managing director this week.

Municipal bond issuance was not much changed from the start of 2018, marking the second year in a row volume got off to a slow start.