Search

Focuses on the plan of San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's finance officials to use a commercial paper program to jump-start most of $304 million of water bonds authorized by voters on November 4, 1997. Preparations made for a request for qualifications from financial advisers to structure the program; Outlook for the program; Outcome of a study on the backlog of unfunded capital projects in the city.

The article reports on petition of municipal issuers to be included in the U.S. Federal Reserve's Commercial Paper Funding Facility program. The petition came after the Fed has hinted will not include municipalities under its current terms. Municipal issuers argue that the Fed's desire to provide liquidity to the short-term paper should extend to their tax-exempt commercial paper and even to municipal tax and revenue anticipation notes.

The article focuses on the many people around the U.S. who pursue scripophily, the hobby of collecting antique municipal bond certificates. Among those are Paul Kinney, senior vice president in personal wealth management at UBS Securities LLC, and Bob Kerstein, former CFO of a wireless telecommunications company. Some of them claimed that they are attracted to old bonds because of its aesthetic or historical value, while others like to honor the issuers that they have worked with during their careers.

The article focuses on the release of paper on the general obligation bonds by the U.S. National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL). It reveals that the priority of the paper is to educate bond lawyers and other market participants about general obligation bonds in the wake of the Detroit, Michigan, bankruptcy filings.

The article focuses on the National Federation of Municipal Analysts (NFMA) which is urging municipal issuers to disclose more information about their toll road financings in its latest draft document containing disclosure recommendations for a specific sector of the municipal market. The 28-page paper, the twelfth issued by the NFMA, is to be posted on the group's Web site, www.nfma.org. The NFMA plans to ask market participants to comment on the recommendations by March 7, 2005, in hopes that the paper can be finalized by the middle of 2005.

Highlights trends in the municipal money markets in the United States as of July 21, 2000. Increased rates on daily and weekly municipal paper; General market daily variable-rate demand; Pricing for the tax and revenue anticipation notes from Oakland.

The article cites a report from Fitch Ratings Ltd. indicating that municipalities borrowing short term are increasingly taking on refinancing risk in the U.S. The rating agency notes that the municipalities are increasingly relying on bond anticipation notes and extendable-maturity commercial paper for short-term financing. Fitch managing director Karl Pfeil states that commercial paper and note markets have grown because issuers want access to the low rates on the short end of the yield curve.

Reports on the white paper of the National Federation of Municipal Analysts for the application of the federal securities laws to disclosure in Washington. Encouragement of municipal issuers to provide bond-related information to investors; Establishment of a national gateway page on the web site of municipal issuers; Development of disclosure guidance.

Reports that a task force of the Bond Market Association has sent its members a draft white paper on electronic disclosure that recommends hypertext markup language (HTML) as the standard format to be used by municipal issuers who want to file secondary market disclosures electronically. Costs issues associated with the use of HTML; Sending of annual financing information.

Lower income households benefit more from tax-exempt debt than shown by traditional analyses, researchers at the Urban Institute found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the decline in municipal bonds market in the U.S. in the week of August 2014. Topics discussed include information about the two largest deals including auctioning of 345.2 million dollars of general obligation public improvement bonds by Wake County, North Carolina and Washington, D.C. revenue refunding bonds brought by Siebert Brandford, municipal investment bank.

The article reports on the search for a new paper in the U.S. in spring 2012 that will replace the one whose maturity will be in June and July. Municipal bond experts say that the spring this year will have no difference from past years with regards to the heavy demand for new paper. Guy Davidson of Alliance Bernstein says that it is going to be another big reinvestment season.

Coming off the biggest volume week of the year, another steady batch of issuance awaits muni traders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary municipal bond market volume is expected to increase to $6.7 billion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The muni market firmed up on Monday, ahead of what should be another busy week. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The municipal bond market is prepping for around $5 billion of new issuance in the upcoming holiday-shortened week. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

They see aggressive assumptions and a failure to tackle long-term problems like pension underfunding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the white paper released by Standard and Poor's Corp. stating the issuer-pays is that most effective business model for fostering high-quality ratings in the U.S. California Treasurer Bill Lockyer criticizes the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for not including the municipal bond issuers who could discuss the double standard of rating municipal bonds on a more tighter scale. The paper comes as the issuer-pays model used by the rating agencies has come under fire.

Reports that Tennessee's Shelby County has closed its sale of $95 million of bond anticipation notes on July 10, 2000. Use of the proceeds to refinance outstanding Bans it sold in 1998; Strength of the county's credit strength.

Municipal strategists say intermediate securities, premium bonds with short calls, and investment-grade paper, top their holiday wish lists of must-have securities as 2014 winds down, while they forecast continued steady performance by municipals into early 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights trends in the municipal bond market in the United States as of February 4, 1999. Efforts of some retail brokers to get their clients to warm up to 4.75 percent coupons; Trends in the secondary issues; Supply in the primary market; Efforts to lure mom-and-pop buyers to municipals.

Focuses on the difficulties of municipal bond participants to deliver tax-free bonds to retail customers in the United States due to third quarter redemption in 1998. Inside track of institutional investors to primary market offerings; Popularity of money market funds and corporate and Treasury bonds.

Focuses on a Houston debt issue that could total as much as $250 million of general obligation current-refunding bonds. Purpose of the bonds; Sale date; Maturity; Pledge; Redemption provision; Ratings; Siebert Branford Shank & Co. as senior manager; Co-financial advisers; Co-bond counsel.

Presents the absence of patterns indicating the demand for municipal bond issued from New York City according to the opinion of financial consultants. Tepidity of market response according to Dennis Beezley, municipal trader from Glen Rauch Securities; Investors' confidence for New York City's financial future according to Don Weidenfield from J.W. Charles Securities.

Reports on the unsuccessful efforts of many United States retail investors on municipal bonds due to the elusive nature of long-term papers. New York State Thruway Authority's $452 million Local Highway and Bridge Service Contract revenue offering; Comments from retail investors.

Focuses on the difficulty of predicting the impact of stock market volatility on the United States municipal bond market for the fourth quarter of 1998. Improvement of the secondary tax-exempt market; Continuation of Treasuries' plunge to historic lows; Possible economic trouble signalled by the narrowing spread between short- and long-term yields.

The article presents the comments of Ron Stack, chairman of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB), on the need of the U.S. Federal Reserve and Treasury Department and Federal Reserve to address the liquidity issues in the municipal markets. Stack points out that the state and local governments should have equal access to capital markets. He opines that the Commercial Paper Funding Facility does not directly address the concerns of state and local issuers.

Discusses the performance of Evergreen North Carolina Municipal Bond Fund issued by Evergreen Asset Management Corp. Size and duration; Inception date; Investment strategy; Impact of strong economic fundamentals; High-grade issues; Difficulty in finding yieldy paper; Total return.

Reports on investors' reception to Massachusetts' municipal bond offerings in the wake of tax cuts. Concerns over tax rate levels in the state; Sources of demand for tax-exempt municipal securities; Includes relief for individuals in higher tax brackets.

The article informs that retail investors in the U.S. who have been trying to unload their expensive municipal bonds in a session on December 30, 2013 have not been able to sell enough to move levels. According to the statistics of the data and analysis firm Lipper FMI, municipal bond mutual funds recorded a 31st straight week of outflows in the week ended December 29, 2013.

The article offers information on a discussion paper issued by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee regarding the tax reform associated with the economic and community development. It mentions that the paper contains several tax reform options including reversing tax exemption for governmental and private-activity municipal bonds, restoration of tax-exempts bonds with direct-pay and traditional tax-credit bonds and capping the tax exemption value.

Focuses on the performance of municipal bond funds in Texas. Portfolio managers' interest in health care and industrial development bonds; Outlook for interest rates in the municipal market.

Reports on municipal bond offerings from Montana, California, Arizona and Florida in August 1998. Serial issue from the Montana Health Facilities Authority; Serial offering from the Los Angeles Unified School District; Value of the deal from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport; Merrill Lynch & Co.'s underwriting of a deal on behalf of the Jacksonville Electric Authority.

Highlights the performance of selected municipal funds in the United States as of August 5, 1998. Includes Norwest Investment Management; U.S. Global Investors Inc.; Vanguard Group's limited-term portfolio; Growth of short-to-intermediate funds.

Examines the performance of municipal funds in Florida. High prices of funds inspite of plentiful supply; Types of funds supported by investors; Top performing funds; Portfolio managers' comments on some funds; Investment allocation strategies; Return rates for funds; Total income by the funds.

In a working paper paper released by the Volcker Alliance on Wednesday, researchers said states need to do a better job of disclosing their infrastructure needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information about the weakening of the U.S. municipal bond market. Having absorbed heavy supply earlier this week, the municipal bond market weakened yesterday as some balances continued to show up in the secondary and participants were ready to make a concession to the bid side if they wanted to move paper ahead of an abbreviated session today and a three-day Memorial Day weekend. The bid side softened and participants were willing to give up a few basis points to sell bonds.

Reports developments related to the municipal bond market in the U.S. Detection of the slow trading of municipal bonds; Contribution of an increase in oil prices on the trading; Anticipation for rising credit risks in the Gulf Coast states.

Recommends various municipal bond issues in the United States. Includes the Washington Suburban Sanitary District; St. Mary's College; Floating rate issues of the state of Massachusetts; Justification for their high credit ratings.

The article offers information related to the U.S. municipal market conditions as of January 23, 2014. It mentions that the market has reported accelerated activity in both the primary and secondary bond markets. It mentions that the state of Washington has auctioned the two largest competitive deals including motor vehicle fuel-tax general obligation (GO) and various-purpose GO.

Reports on municipal governments' efforts to boost demand for financings ahead of the United States presidential election in November 2000. Investors' response to political uncertainty; Concerns about tax-rate changes that will weaken the value of municipal bonds' tax exemption; Major deals.

The municipal bond market sell-off continues on Tuesday, which is good news for buyers but possibly a negative for issuers, according to market participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs that Columbus, Ohio is selling 291 million dollars of top-rated general obligation (GO) bonds to raise money for a series of capital projects across Columbus. It mentions that Columbus is selling GO in three categories including unlimited tax GO bonds, limited tax GO bonds, and federally taxable limited tax GO bonds. It further mentions that the debt will be sold in a competitive sale of bonds.

Reports on long-term municipal bonds offered in the United States on the third week of November 1998. Capitalization on the spread between municipal bonds and Treasuries; Purchases of national bank portfolios and trust departments.

Reports that West Virginia is facing a budget shortfall in 2003 and 2004, but analysts are predicting that the demand for state debt issuance, including a lottery bond sale, will remain strong. High market demand for West Virginia bonds due to the state's relatively low amount of issuance; Structure and pricing of an upcoming issue.

Reports on Wisconsin's expansion of the use of municipal security in its debt program. Plans to sell transportation revenue bonds; Similarity of extendible notes and traditional commercial paper.

Reports on the performance of the United States municipal bond market in the second quarter of 2000. Municipal bond mutual funds; Success of high-yield managers; Short-term focus on income; Neutral-interest rate outlook; Portfolio management strategies.

Reports on developments in institutional investments and municipal bonds in Massachusetts and in the whole United States as of December 8, 1998. Influence of primary markets on institutional demand; Market response to the Massachusetts grant anticipation note and Bay Transportation Authority revenue offering; Remarks by portfolio managers Kurt Larson and Tom Conlin on the market.

The article reports on the lower yields in the traditional municipal market questioning the continuation of duration risk for minimal gains in the U.S. in 2010.

Reports that the attractiveness of municipal bonds compared with their sub-5 percent levels in the first quarter of 1998 is encouraging more retail investors in California to buy tax-free bonds. Willingness among investors to extend maturities to take advantage of the back-up in rates; Comment by Peter Auzers, Western regional manager of fixed-income underwriting at Fidelity Capital.