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
 

  

2010 Forecast: Muni Yields to Rise, BAB Issues to Double 

Municipal yields are likely to rise in tandem with the rest of the fixed-income market in 2010. Strong investor demand for safe, tax-exempt income and a scarce supply of Municipal bonds have driven down market yields. We expect this to correct as new supply is issued.

The “January Effect” is common in the Municipal market. What isn’t common, however, is the forecast for Build America Bonds to nearly double this year. We’ll see what effect issuing $100 billion in BABs will have on Municipals. The Muni yield curve is sure to steepen with the Treasury market yields.

The big question this year: Will Congress allow BABs to be used to refund outstanding tax-exempt bonds? If so, it could create a surge of primary issuance to unprecedented heights. This would have a direct relationship on tax-exempts, and tax-exempt yields would drop.



10-Day Yield History of U.S. Treasuries and
Bond Buyer 40 Municipal bond Index
  30yr 10yr 5yr 2yr B.B. Index
January 8 4.707 3.818 2.573 0.964 5.33
January 7 4.686 3.825 2.613 1.028 5.33
January 6 4.688 3.823 2.593 0.996 5.34
January 5 4.610 3.763 2.563 1.012 5.35
January 4 4.644 3.817 2.637 1.068 5.40
January 1 4.629 3.837 2.681 1.140 5.36
Dec 31 4.642 3.839 2.681 1.139 5.36
Dec 30 4.610 3.788 2.617 1.083 5.36
Dec 29 4.638 3.799 2.569 1.083 5.37
Dec 28 4.690 3.842 2.600 1.043 5.37


California Bonds currently trade at the following yields:

  30yr 10yr 5yr 1yr
Cal Insured High Grade (par coupon) 4.74 3.50 2.00 0.30
Cal Non-Rated 7.00 5.75 5.00 3.00


Short Term Rates:
CA Exempt Weekly Variable Rates: 0.10%
Taxable Weekly Variable Rates: 0.23%



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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