The Bond Buyer articles from April 2009

The Bond Buyer archives from April 2009

Arizona Democrats' Budget-Balancing Plan Includes Series of Tax Hikes.(The Regions)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Jim Watts DALLAS - The Democratic minority in the Arizona House has proposed a budget-balancing solution for fiscal 2010 that includes $2.4 billion in federal stimulus funds and a $233 million tax on electricity generated with...

Midwest Bond-Watch.(Midwest)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Yvette Shields, Caitlin Devitt ILLINOIS Art Museum's Sticker Shock In response to the Art Institute of Chicago's plans to raise admission next month to $18 from $12, two Chicago City Council members have proposed an...

Transportation Is Front and Center as California Divvies Up GO Proceeds.(The Regions)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Rich Saskal SAN FRANCISCO - Transportation projects are in front of the line as California disburses the larger than expected proceeds of last week's general obligation bond sale. The GO issue, originally targeted for $4...

S&P Upgrades Dallas Suburb of Carrollton to AAA.(News)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Richard Williamson DALLAS - Standard & Poor's yesterday raised its rating on the Dallas suburb of Carrollton to AAA from AA-plus, citing the city's strong general reserve funds, revenue-raising flexibility, and proactive...

Fitch: CCRCs Face More Downgrades Than Upgrades.(News)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Lynne Funk WASHINGTON - Continuing care retirement communities face more rating downgrades than upgrades in 2009 because of limited access to capital, slower unit re-occupancy caused by falling real estate values, and significantly...

Chicago Gives MidCo More Time to Plan.(News)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Yvette Shields CHICAGO - Chicago will give the private consortium that wants to lease the city's Midway Airport for 99 years for an up-front payment of $2.5 billion up to an additional six months to put its financing scheme...

DEAL IN FOCUS: Michigan Moving $280M of GOs.(Midwest)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Caitlin Devitt CHICAGO - Michigan is set to enter the market today with roughly $280 million of general obligation bonds that will include new-money and refunding bonds that will restructure some existing debt, pushing off debt...

N.J. Med School Returns From 7-Year Bond Break With $253M.(The Regions)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Michelle Kaske After a seven-year hiatus from bonding, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey today plans to sell $253 million of revenue refunding bonds with a special "lockbox" structure to secure debt service...

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT: Demand for Some Bonds Falls Off; Diversity Becomes an Issue.(Investors & Investing)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Dan Seymour The composition of municipal bonds coming to market is making it harder for some investors to diversify their portfolios. Muni issuance is off only 1.9% for the first three months of the year compared with the first...

Illinois Reform Panel Unveils Suggestions to Curb Corruption.(The Regions)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Yvette Shields CHICAGO - A government reform commission established by Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn yesterday proposed capping all campaign contributions, banning contributions from lobbyists, and extending a ban on contributions...

LIPA Could Turn to Bonds for Offshore Wind Farm Project.(The Regions)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Audrey Dutton WASHINGTON - The Long Island Power Authority may issue bonds if it decides to take and ownership interest in an offshore wind farm that it plans to develop with Consolidated Edison Inc. more than 13 miles off the...

Munis Firm Up as Larger Deals Price.(Market News)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Michael Scarchilli The municipal market was three to five basis points firmer yesterday as several of the week's largest new-issue transactions came to market, traders said. "We're a bit more active today, and we're firmer," a...

Newark Mayor Vows to End $85M Structural Budget Imbalance.(News)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Michelle Kaske NEWARK - Mayor Cory Booker yesterday pledged to end Newark's $85 million structural budget imbalance and announced furloughs and a 2% pay cut for top-earning city employees as officials work on an estimated $650...

IN BRIEF: Consumer Confidence Creeps Up to 26.0.(Market News)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Gary E. Siegel The consumer confidence index climbed slightly in March, rising to 26.0 from an upwardly revised 25.3 last month, the Conference Board reported yesterday. The February index was initially reported as 25.0. ...

IN BRIEF: March Chicago PMI 31.4, Down From 34.2 in February.(Market News)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Gary E. Siegel The Chicago Purchasing Managers' Business Barometer fell to 31.4 in March from 34.2 in February, the National Association of Purchasing Management-Chicago said yesterday. Economists polled by Thomson Reuters...

IN BRIEF: March NAPM-NY Index Improves to 43.1 From 29.6.(Market News)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Gary E. Siegel New York City business activity declined for the 14th straight month, although March's current conditions index rebounded from a seven-year low in February, according to the National Association of Purchasing...

IN BRIEF: Minny Fed's Stern Dubious About Seizing Non-Banks.(Market News)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Market News International Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank president Gary Stern expressed skepticism about a centerpiece of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's financial regulatory reform proposals yesterday. Stern, in...

Ohio Lawmakers Set to Vote on Transportation Budget.(The Regions)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Caitlin Devitt CHICAGO - Ohio lawmakers were poised to vote late yesterday on a $9.6 billion, two-year state transportation budget that would include a new bond program as well as expanded authority for the state to enter into...

Rhode Island House Expected to Vote on Deficit-Closing Bill.(The Regions)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Ted Phillips The Rhode Island House is expected to vote on a deficit mitigation bill today that would close the state's current-year $357 million budget gap. If it passes, the full Senate could take it up as soon as tomorrow. ...

SEC Rating Proposals Should Apply to Munis.(News)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Andrew Ackerman WASHINGTON - The Securities and Exchange Commission should expand to municipal bonds and other securities the rules it proposed last year to enhance the transparency and limit conflicts of interest for structured...

SEC's Eric Sirri Will Return to Academia.(News)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Andrew Ackerman Erik Sirri, the director of the Securities and Exchange Commission's division of trading and markets, will leave at the end of the month to return to academia, the SEC announced yesterday. Sirri was hired by...

Market Sees Fifth Biggest March Ever California Lifts March Volume To $37.3 Billion in 823 Issues; California Boosts Total to $37.3 Billion.(News)
April 1, 2009... Byline: Jack Herman Led by the fourth-largest bond sale on record, primary issuance in the municipal market registered its fifth biggest March ever. With California's well-received $6.5 billion offering headlining the month, a total of...

Municipal Bond Activities.(News)
April 2, 2009... April 1-3 The New York State Government Finance Officer's Association will host its 30th Anniversary Annual Conference at the Albany Marriott Hotel. For more information or to register call 518-465-1512 or visit www.nysgfoa.org. April...

Southeast Bond-Watch.(Southeast)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Shelly Sigo, Patrick Temple-West ALABAMA More Jawing on Jeffco Alabama pension chief David Bronner penned a column in his agency's April newsletter to state retirees to express his latest view on the sewer debt crisis in...

Detroit Strikes Deal With Counterparties.(News)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Caitlin Devitt CHICAGO - After months of negotiations, Detroit has reached a settlement with two counterparties that allows it to avoid swap termination payments of up to $400 million tied to downgrades of the city's debt. The...

HIGHER EDUCATION: Treasurers, Senators Working to Keep FFEL Program Alive.(Washington)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Andrew Ackerman Supporters of the Federal Family Education Loan program are maneuvering to save it as Congress moves forward with budget resolutions that would set spending goals based on President Obama's proposed fiscal 2010...

HOUSING: Frank, Rangel Seek Treasury Guidance on Low-Income Tax Credits.(Washington)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Lynne Funk House Financial Services chairman Barney Frank and Ways and Means chairman Charles Rangel have asked Treasury Department officials to issue guidance on how states should implement a stimulus law provision that would...

ENFORCEMENT: IRS Auditing $150M of Maryland Bonds Issued for Hospitals.(Washington)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Peter Schroeder The Internal Revenue Service is auditing $149.7 million of revenue bonds issued in 2005 by the Maryland Health and Higher Educational Facilities Authority. The authority disclosed the IRS examination in a notice...

Kansas Lawmakers Pass Budget With School Cuts, 20-Year Notes.(The Regions)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Jim Watts DALLAS - Kansas lawmakers on Tuesday approved a $13 billion state budget for fiscal 2010 that relies on spending cuts, fund adjustments, and $585 million in federal stimulus funds to eliminate an expected $680 million...

Massachusetts Agency Merger Plan Still on the Table.(News)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Michelle Kaske State officials will still move ahead with plans to potentially merge the Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority with the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency despite the fact that state Sen....

Jobs Cut at B of A/Merrill Muni Groups.(Underwriters & Dealers)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Yvette Shields, Jack Herman, Ted Phillips and Richard Williamson CHICAGO - More than a dozen professionals were cut from the ranks of Bank of America Corp. and Merrill Lynch & Co.'s municipal groups in recent days as the two firms...

Moderate Action, Larger Deals Firm Up Munis.(Market News)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Michael Scarchilli The municipal market was firmer by up to five basis points yesterday, with moderate activity in the secondary market and some of the last sizeable new issues of the week pricing in the primary market. Traders...

IN BRIEF: Construction Spending Off 0.9% to $967.5 Billion.(Market News)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Gary E. Siegel Spending on construction projects fell 0.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $967.5 billion in February, as private construction shrank 1.6% and public construction rose 0.8%, according to the Commerce...

IN BRIEF: March ISM Index at 36.3, Up From 35.8 in February.(Market News)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Gary E. Siegel The overall economy failed to grow for the sixth straight month while the manufacturing sector contracted for the 14th month in a row, the Institute for Supply Management reported yesterday. According to ISM's...

IN BRIEF: NAR's Pending Home Sales Index Gains to 82.1 in Feb.(Market News)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Gary E. Siegel Pending home sales increased 2.1% to a reading of 82.1 in February from an unrevised 80.4 in January, according to an index released yesterday by the National Association of Realtors. Thomson Reuters' poll of...

RANKINGS: B of A and Merrill Top Senior Managers List; Worked on 111 Issues Worth $15.5B.(Underwriters & Dealers)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Jack Herman After a year in which the landscape of underwriters in the municipal market changed dramatically, Bank of America Corp. and Merrill Lynch & Co. have emerged to combine as the top senior manager for the first quarter of...

IN BRIEF: Under OMB Ruling, South Carolina Won't Get $700M.(Washington)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Patrick Temple-West State legislatures cannot overturn a governor's decision to reject federal stimulus funds, Obama administration officials said Monday, increasing the likelihood that South Carolina will not receive the $700...

Florida's Gov. Crist Scales Back Land Purchase for Everglades.(The Regions)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Shelly Sigo BRADENTON, Fla. -Saying economic reality forced a major change in what would be the largest land purchase in Florida's history, Gov. Charlie Crist yesterday announced yet another scaled-back approach to buying land...

Syncora Reports Net Loss of $1.4 Billion in 2008, Up From $1.2B in 2007.(News)(Financial report)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Jack Herman Syncora Holdings Ltd. reported a 2008 net loss of $1.4 billion, up from a $1.2 billion net loss in 2007, according to documents filed late Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Syncora, which...

TRENDS IN THE REGION: Trolling for Virginia P3; Chicago Firm Offers Unsolicited Port Deal.(Southeast)
April 2, 2009... Byline: Lynne Funk WASHINGTON - A Chicago-area real estate company has proposed an unsolicited 60-year concession to operate the Port of Virginia that would give the state an up-front payment of $500 million and $8.9 billion over the life...

N.Y. Nonprofit Looks to DASNY, Not IDA.(Market News)
April 3, 2009... Byline: Ted Phillips An Albany, N.Y., area resident who wanted to learn to play the bagpipes, learn traditional Irish or Scottish dance, or just get in touch with his or her Celtic heritage could pop on over to the Capital District Celtic...

Florida Reopens Process on Miami Tunnel P3.(Washington)
April 3, 2009... Byline: Shelly Sigo BRADENTON, Fla. - The $1.2 billion Port of Miami Tunnel project will undergo another procurement process, Florida's Department of Transportation secretary said late Wednesday. With the economy taking a toll on a...

Yields Decline as Munis Firm Up Amid Lighter Supply.(Market News)
April 3, 2009... Byline: Michael Scarchilli Nearly all of The Bond Buyer's weekly yield indexes declined this week, as tax-exempt bonds firmed up in nearly all sessions and new-issue supply lightened substantially from last week's deluge. "There was a...

House Bill Would Create Regulator for Insurers.(Washington)
April 3, 2009... Byline: Andrew Ackerman Reps. Melissa Bean, D-Ill., and Ed Royce, R-Calif., introduced legislation yesterday that would establish a "parallel national system of regulation and supervision" for the insurance industry, including financial...

Munis Unchanged Amid Light Supply.(Market News)
April 3, 2009... Byline: Michael Scarchilli With the new issuance for the week mostly wrapped up, the municipal market was unchanged yesterday, with mostly light secondary market activity. "It's pretty slow," a trader in New York said. "The new...

Hoenig: Fed Must Fill Role Of 'Stability Regulator'.(Market News Briefs)
April 3, 2009... Byline: Market News International WASHINGTON - Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank president Thomas Hoenig yesterday said the Federal Reserve must starting filling the role of financial stability regulator and he laid out his principles for...

Jobless Claims Rise 12,000 To 669,000 in Latest Week.(Market News Briefs)
April 3, 2009... Byline: Market News International WASHINGTON - Initial claims for state unemployment benefits jumped 12,000 in the March 28 week to 669,000, while continuing claims rose to another record high for the ninth week in a row, the Labor...

Factory Orders Rise 1.8%; Ex-Transportation Up 1.6%.(Market News Briefs)
April 3, 2009... Byline: Gary E. Siegel New factory orders for manufactured goods jumped 1.8% in February, the Commerce Department said yesterday. The factory order increase, to $352.189 billion, contrasted to the 1.5% decrease projected by Thomson...

Not All Hospitals Are Risky Bets; Ciccarone Eyes Debt, Cash Metrics.(Market News)
April 3, 2009... Byline: Dan Seymour Death and disease know no recession. Hospitals do. Richard Ciccarone, chief research officer at McDonnell Investment Management LLC, believes concerns about some hospitals in this recession have punished an entire...

Volcker to Lead on Reform; Looks to Streamline Tax Code; Muni Effects Unknown.(Washington)
April 3, 2009... Byline: Peter Schroeder WASHINGTON - The Obama administration has tapped economic adviser and former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker to lead a task force that will explore how to streamline the tax code, but it's unclear if the...

MUTUAL FUNDS: With $341.7M, Cash Inflows Continue For 12th Week, But at a Slower Pace.(Investors & Investing)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Dan Seymour Cash influxes into municipal bond mutual funds persisted last week - albeit at a slower pace - as state and local government debt continued to gain traction among retail investors. Investors entrusted $341.7 million...

Northeast Bond-Watch.(Northeast)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Ted Phillips, Lynne Funk, Michelle Kaske MAINE MFA Chief Acting No Longer Gov. John Baldacci last week chose Elizabeth Bordowitz to head up the Maine Finance Authority. Bordowitz has been the acting chief executive officer...

GUEST WORDS: New Technology Can Help SEC Reform the Muni Market.(Commentary)
April 6, 2009... Byline: R.T. Mcnamar The Feb. 23 edition of the New York Times reported that new SEC chairwoman Mary Schapiro is looking to the law enforcement and intelligence communities to help identify potential investigations and strengthen...

Moody's Drops Illinois to A1 From Aa2.(The Regions)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Yvette Shields CHICAGO - Ahead of Illinois' $150 million general obligation sale tomorrow, Moody's Investors Service delivered the latest in a series of fiscal blows to the state's credit when it knocked the rating into the...

Indiana Agency Powers Up With $208M for Two Coal-Fired Plants.(The Regions)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Caitlin Devitt CHICAGO - TheIndiana Municipal Power Agencywill enter the market tomorrow with roughly $208 million in revenue bonds to finance construction of two major Midwest coal-fired power plants. Proceeds from the sale...

REGULATION: Treasury Offers Guidance; Notices Cover BAB, School Programs.(Washington)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Peter Schroeder WASHINGTON - The Treasury Department Friday released "how-to" guidance on the stimulus law's new taxable Build America Bond and Recovery Zone Economic Development Bond programs, as well as allocations for the...

Los Angeles County Metro Ready To Refinance $167 Million of ARS.(The Regions)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Andrew Ward SAN FRANCISCO - The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority plans to refinance $167 million of auction-rate securities Wednesday, as it works to clear its variable-rate debt portfolio of more than a...

Munis End Quietly, Detroit Rans to Yield 4%.(Market News)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Michael Scarchilli The municipal market finished unchanged to slightly weaker Friday in light trading, with much of the weakness situated on the long end. On the short end, however, Morgan Stanley priced $128.5 million of...

Bernanke: Balances Could Hinder Rate Hikes.(Market News Briefs)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Gary E. Siegel If policymakers fail to manage the large volume of reserve balances, it could make it more difficult for the Fed to raise short-term rates when recovery begins, Federal Reserve Board chairman Ben S. Bernanke said...

Kohn: Without Precedents, Fed Must Be 'Very Flexible'.(Market News Briefs)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Gary E. Siegel Policymakers are uncertain whether actions taken to this point will be sufficient to "restart the flow of credit" since "we have no reliable precedents for the current situation, Federal Reserve Board vice chairman...

Payrolls Drop 663,000; Jobless Rate Up to 8.5%.(Market News Briefs)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Market News International WASHINGTON - March employment data show slight additional weakening as payrolls dropped another 663,000 and the January-February revisions totaled minus-86,000. Job losses were widespread as the one-month...

March ISM Non-Mfg Index Drops to 40.8 From 41.6.(Market News Briefs)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Gary E. Siegel The Institute for Supply Management's non-manufacturing business activity composite index was 41.6 in March, down from 41.6 in February on a seasonally adjusted basis, ISM said Friday. Economists polled by...

Nevada High Court to Hear Case on Curbing RDAs.(The Regions)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Rich Saskal SAN FRANCISCO -The Nevada Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments this afternoon on a case that could severely limit redevelopment agencies if the plaintiffs are successful. The issue the court will hear...

New York City Official Proposes Steep Water-Rate Hike.(The Regions)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Ted Phillips The formal proposal to steeply increase water rates in New York City, announced Friday, sets the stage for a political fight between candidates in November's city-wide elections. Acting city Department of...

It's Time to Close the Financial Adviser Loophole.(Commentary)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Michael Decker A string of reports in recent weeks has shed light on the insular, unregulated world of so-called independent municipal financial advisers, consultants that counsel state and local governments on everything from...

South Carolina's Sanford Accepts Stimulus; Still Wants Debt Paydown.(The Regions)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Patrick Temple-West WASHINGTON - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford became the last governor in the nation to certify his acceptance of federal stimulus funds before the deadline Friday, but said he will not request $700 million of...

REGULATION: SIFMA Cuts Its Recommended Pre-Holiday Early Closes to Five.(Underwriters & Dealers)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Dan Seymour The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association will no longer recommend early closes on trading days before most holidays to allow more continuous access to trading liquidity. SIFMA formerly recommended...

Texas Public Finance Agency Names Moody's Burns Executive Director.(The Regions)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Jason Philyaw DALLAS - The Texas Public Finance Authority last week named Dwight Burns executive director week, succeeding Kimberly Edwards, who left on Nov. 30 after holding the post for 12 years. Burns comes to the state...

TRENDS IN THE REGION: Mass. Plan Has Investors Wondering.(Northeast)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Michelle Kaske Investors who own billions of dollars of debt issued by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority are waiting to see how they would fare if the agencies are consolidated...

Panel Orders Vallejo to Show Funds Are Restricted.(The Regions)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Andrew Ward SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel late Thursday ordered Vallejo, Calif., to show that the $136 million in restricted funds on its balance sheet are legally restricted, as the panel...

REGULATION: VRDNs May Not Be Viable: Bernanke; Fed Chief's Warning Surprises Some.(Washington)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Andrew Ackerman WASHINGTON - The stresses in the short-term municipal market, fueled in part by a mismatch in supply and demand for liquidity facilities, may reflect that variable-rate demand notes are not a viable financing...

THE WEEK AHEAD: New York, California Lead a Full Plate of Not-So-Huge Deals.(Investors & Investing)(Calendar)
April 6, 2009... Byline: Christine Albano A slate of new offerings - anchored by a pair of deals from New York and California issuers - is expected in the municipal market this week. While the total is considerable, the size of the deals will be in stark...

BOND INSURERS: Wisconsin Indicates Double-A Needed for Everspan Cash Infusion.(Underwriters & Dealers)
April 7, 2009... Byline: Jack Herman Wisconsin's insurance commissioner's office has indicated that Ambac Financial Group Inc.'s planned reactivation of muni-only insurer Everspan Financial Guaranty Corp. would need to earn at least one double-A rating for...

Southwest Bond-Watch.(Southwest)
April 7, 2009... Byline: Jim Watts ARIZONA Gap at $2.9B, Despite Cuts The Legislature's Finance Advisory Committee last week put Arizona's deficit for fiscal 2010 at $2.93 billion, despite $600 million in budget cuts in fiscal 2009 that will...

California Planning $4B, Including BABs.(The Regions)
April 7, 2009... Byline: Rich Saskal SAN FRANCISCO - California is moving ahead with plans to issue up to $4 billion in taxable general obligation bonds, including Build America Bonds, either next week or the week of the April 20, the treasurer's office...

Correction.(Market News)(Correction notice)
April 7, 2009... Monday's story and accompanying headline about a Moody's Investors Service downgrade of Illinois' general obligation debt should have said the credit was dropped to A1 from Aa3, not Aa2.

No Sale: Dallas Mayor Says Weak Market Delays $500M Hotel Deal.(The Regions)
April 7, 2009... Byline: Jim Watts DALLAS -Dallas will not be able to sell up to $500 million of taxable revenue bonds in the next 30 days for a convention center hotel due to a weak credit market, Mayor Tom Leppert said Thursday in a radio debate with a...

MUTUAL FUNDS: Year-End Loss in Assets Prompts Increases in Management Fees.(Investors & Investing)(Financial report)
April 7, 2009... Byline: Dan Seymour Management fees for many municipal bond mutual funds have jumped this year because of the drainage of fund assets at the end of last year. According to a Morningstar report released yesterday, many mutual funds...

Illinois on Fitch Watch Ahead of $15OM Deal.(The Regions)
April 7, 2009... Byline: Yvette Shields CHICAGO - The financial stakes for Illinois as Gov. Pat Quinn and lawmakers work to close a $12 billion budget gap rose yesterday when Fitch Ratings placed the state's AA-minus credit on negative watch ahead of...

STIMULUS: Treasury Notices Allocate $3.2B Of QECBs, Offer CREB Guidance.(Washington)
April 7, 2009... Byline: Peter Schroeder The Treasury Department continued its flurry of stimulus-related guidance yesterday, unveiling notices that allocate to states a total of $3.2 billion of qualified energy conservation bonds and that show governments...

REGULATION: MSRB Won't Amend Rule G-37; Board Staff Plans To Study Issue.(Washington)
April 7, 2009... Byline: Andrew Ackerman WASHINGTON - The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board will not amend its Rule G-37 to restrict dealer contributions to bond ballot campaign initiatives because there is not enough evidence to show firms are being...

Munis Mostly Unchanged as Holiday Week Starts Monday's Data Monday's Economic Indicators Monday's Data.(Market News)
April 7, 2009... Byline: Michael Scarchilli The municipal market was largely unchanged yesterday in light activity, ahead of a slate of new issuance in the primary market coming today and tomorrow. Traders said yields in the secondary market were flat....

Fed's Warsh: Panic Fueled Economy's Weakness.(Market News Briefs)
April 7, 2009... Byline: Gary E. Siegel Panic created a domino effect that magnified the economic weakness leading to the U.S. recession, Federal Reserve Board governor Kevin Warsh said yesterday. He said the term "recession" is "insufficient in some...

Conference Board's ETI Dips 2.3% to 90.1 in March.(Market News Briefs)
April 7, 2009... Byline: Gary E. Siegel More softening is seen in the labor market, according to the Conference Board's employment trends index, which slid 2.3% to 90.1 in March from an upwardly revised 92.2 in February. The February index was...