The San Francisco Airport Commission refunds $110 million in fixed-rate revenue bonds with new variable-rate bonds to lower its overall interest cost.  •  The San Dieguito Union High School District responds to the turbulent auction-rate market by converting $90 million in ARS bonds to fixed-rate securities.  •  De La Rosa & Co. generates $41 million of retail orders to reduce yields and save the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority significant interest costs on a $25-million Sales Tax Revenue Bond issue.  •  The L.A. Community Redevelopment Agency obtains a strong investment-grade rating on a $12.5-million Taxable Tax-Allocation Bond issue for the Westlake Recovery Project.  •  Despite a tough market, Beverly Hills successfully refunds $31 million in water revenue bonds and $17 million in wastewater revenue bonds for economic savings.  •  The Gridley Redevelopment Agency clears various hurdles caused by tightening credit in the municipal market to successfully execute its first tax-allocation bond financing.  •  Riverside issues unenhanced Bond Anticipation Notes to mute the effects of the collapse of auction-rate securities and prudently control interest costs.  •  The Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District restructures $50 million in auction rate securities with better performing, direct pay variable-rate bonds backed by letters of credit.  • 
 

BEN STERN'S MarketWatch
 

  

Stronger Market Adapts to BABs, State Budget Vote 

Tax-exempt trading slowed going into the long Memorial Day weekend. Market strength continued as the threat of unmanageable supply from taxable Build America Bonds (BABs) diminished, and light secondary trading continued at higher levels (with lower yields).

Many market participants waiting for results from California’s special election were surprised when the market rallied after voters rejected five budget-related propositions. New investor sentiment suggests the federal government may, if necessary, bail out municipalities during this crisis.

Lower tiered credit spreads have tightened drastically as investors recently showed more comfort in taking market risk. The bearish feeling is still out there; both relative and absolute yields have been pushed far since BABs were first issued, yet overall market sentiment is balanced to neutral from a lack of primary supply.



10-Day Yield History of U.S. Treasuries and
Bond Buyer 40 Municipal bond Index
  30yr 10yr 5yr 2yr B.B. Index
May 22 4.385 3.451 2.203 0.887 5.08
May 21 4.313 3.366 2.141 0.863 5.07
May 20 4.145 3.193 2.027 0.838 5.07
May 19 4.209 3.245 2.101 0.887 5.11
May 18 4.199 3.232 2.100 0.911 5.13
May 15 4.085 3.136 2.000 0.855 5.14
May 14 4.049 3.090 1.960 0.847 5.15
May 13 4.100 3.121 1.980 0.871 5.15
May 12 4.160 3.175 2.013 0.887 5.17
May 11 4.186 3.167 2.023 0.895 5.18


California Bonds currently trade at the following yields:

  30yr 10yr 5yr 1yr
Cal Insured High Grade (par coupon) 4.83 3.55 2.33 0.50
Cal Non-Rated 8.00 6.75 5.75 4.00


Short Term Rates:
CA Exempt Weekly Variable Rates: 0.10%
Taxable Weekly Variable Rates: 1.25%



The information contained herein is based on sources that E. J. De La Rosa & Co., Inc. (DLR) believes to be reliable, but it is neither all-inclusive nor guaranteed by DLR, and it may be incomplete or condensed. The information and opinions herein, if any, are subject to change without notice, and DLR does not undertake to advise the reader of changes in opinion or information. Some of the securities DLR follows may be unrated or below investment-grade municipal bonds, or are high-yield corporate bonds, that typically involve a higher degree of risk and more volatility than rated or investment-grade municipal bonds, or investment grade corporate bonds. Therefore, certain debt securities discussed in this update may be unsuitable for some investors, depending on their specific investment objectives, financial condition, and needs. This update is for informational purposes, and under no circumstances is it to be construed as a recommendation, an offer, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any particular debt security. DLR may make a market in or trade for its proprietary account the securities discussed in this update. Also, DLR may have been a manager or co-manager of a public offering of municipal bonds or other debt securities within the last three years for issuers named herein. DLR or its managing partners, directors, and employees individually, or their family members, may have either long or short positions in the securities mentioned, and may purchase or sell these securities from time to time in the open market or otherwise for their own accounts or the accounts of others.
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