Bonds

Illinois trimmed its revenue estimates for the current fiscal year and must absorb higher social services expenses next year, leaving less room to maneuver as lawmakers finalize a supplemental spending package and new budget. They’re entering the homestretch of their spring session that’s slated to end May 19 with passage of a fiscal 2024 budget

Municipals were weaker in spots to end the week, while U.S. Treasuries and equities saw losses on continued concerns over the debt limit impasse and questions over the Federal Reserve’s next policy moves. Municipals mostly stayed in their own lane throughout the week but UST weakness Friday seeped into the secondary Friday, moving yields higher

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said “no” to revenue anticipation notes and a tax increase, but “yes” to climate and mental health bond proposals in the May budget revisions he presented Friday. Newsom stressed emphatically that the state has no plans to issue revenue anticipation notes despite expectations that $49 billion in anticipated revenues won’t come

President Joe Biden has tapped Philip Jefferson for the number two position on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.  If confirmed, Jefferson, who joined the board last year, will succeed former Gov. Lael Brainard as the Fed’s vice chair. Brainard vacated the position to lead the National Economic Council in February.  A former administrator at

Municipals remained little changed as fund outflows receded, the last of large deals of the week priced and Silicon Valley Bank muni holdings lists began circulating the Street for liquidation. U.S. Treasuries were firmer out long and equities ended mixed. Triple-A yields were little changed while UST yields fell on economic data. Lists of the

West Virginia’s general revenue collections came in $319 million above estimates for April, the single largest month surplus in state history. The state’s April personal income tax collections came in $192.8 million above estimates, also a record for a single month. Year-to-date income tax collections of more than $2.277 billion hit a record high coming

A major sticking point in the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority bankruptcy is the discrepancy over the size of bondholders’ claim, with the Oversight Board and bond parties $6.5 billion apart. The board, in a filing Tuesday, placed the value at 24% of principal and pre-petition interest due at time of the bankruptcy petition in

The Walt Disney Company’s lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is unlikely to be decided soon, and claims about its First Amendment right to free speech will join the firm’s special district arrangement with the state as legal arguments. Last month, the Disney filed a suit in federal court, saying that DeSantis and the state

Several members of Congress introduced a bill to permanently raise the rum cover rate supporting some U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico bonds. The rum cover, a tax on rum sold in the 50 states, provides a revenue stream supporting USVI matching fund bonds and Puerto Rico Infrastructure Finance Authority rum bonds. The rate had

Municipals were little changed to start the week, while U.S. Treasuries extended their selloff and equities ended mixed. Municipal yields were steady while UST yields rose eight to 10 basis points across the curve. Ratios fell slightly as a result. The two-year muni-Treasury ratio Monday was at 66%, the three-year at 66%, the five-year at

Massachusetts state senators intend to leave Gov. Maura Healey’s $748 billion tax cut package intact in their redrafted budget proposal despite falling state revenues. The fate of Healey’s tax-relief plan, which features a mix of tax rate cuts and policy changes including an expanded child and family tax credit, and was a centerpiece of her

The public health care system in Texas’ biggest county is seeking $2.5 billion of bond authorization to address critical capacity problems at its two hospitals, which serve a fast-growing population. The Harris Health System Board of Trustees unanimously agreed late last month to ask Harris County commissioners to place the bonds on the November ballot,

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said he thinks the U.S. central bank can still achieve a soft landing, with inflation returning to the Fed’s 2% target without triggering a significant downturn. “Yes, the economy could go into recession, but that’s not the base case,” Bullard told the Economic Club of Minneapolis

New Jersey faces the uncertain economic conditions ahead with historic reserves, a trimmed-down debt profile, and a slew of upgrades from the major bond rating agencies. The state has received six upgrades in a little over a year, including four in April alone, one from each of the four major rating agencies. The Kroll Bond

The Seattle region’s Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority has racked up another series of low-interest loans from the federal government, totaling $327 million. So far, Sound Transit, a light rail, commuter rail and express bus service serving the Seattle metropolitan region, is the largest beneficiary of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau,

Highland Park, Michigan, would get a $20 million lifeline under an appropriation Senate Democrats put in their version of the state budget to help pay down a $24 million water and sewer debt the city has warned could drive it into bankruptcy. The city just north of Detroit owes the Great Lakes Water Authority $24

Municipals were steady to close out the week, while U.S. Treasuries sold off on the heels of a stronger-than-expected jobs report. Equities rallied. Stronger-than-expected hiring and wage growth data on Friday caused “[UST] bond yields to climb while equities are advancing because the data is helping alleviate concerns of a potential recession,” said José Torres,

Wells Fargo’s role as senior manager in a potential $500 million bond sale for the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority is under review after the bank landed on the state treasurer’s list of companies banned from government contracts.  The 13 financial institutions on the list released Wednesday were determined to be boycotting the oil and gas industry

Municipals improved Thursday while outflows from municipal bond mutual funds rose to more than $800 million. U.S. Treasuries were better on bonds five years and in and equities ended down as more news of troubled regional banks and the continued debt ceiling standoff in Washington hangs over markets. Triple-A benchmarks were firmer, with yields falling

Oklahoma’s state treasurer tagged three of the nation’s largest investment banks as fossil fuel industry boycotters, making them ineligible to do business, including municipal bond underwriting, with the state and local governments. Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, and Bank of America are on an initial list released Wednesday of 13 financial institutions determined to be