Author Archives: David

SEC tackles money market reform again

By Mark Schoeff Jr. Jun 2, 2013 Nine months after the Securities and Exchange Commission failed to advance money market fund reform amid a storm of industry protest, it will try again this week — this time with a new … Read more

Confidence Improves as U.S. Consumers’ Views on Economy Mend

By Michelle Jamrisko – May 23 Consumer sentiment advanced last week, an indication that gains in housing and stock markets are bolstering Americans’ outlooks on the economy. The weekly Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index (COMFCOMF) increased to minus 29.4 for the … Read more

U.S. 10-Year Yield Drops Most in 1 Month on Factory, PPI

By Susanne Walker – May 15, 2013 Treasury 10-year note yields fell the most in a month as an unexpected drop in regional manufacturing and declining producer prices eased speculation that a strengthening economy will prompt the Federal Reserve to … Read more

Whitney warns about ‘negative feedback loop from hell’ in muni market

Says higher taxes will force residents of some states to relocate; where’s the revenue going to come from then? By Jeff Benjamin Apr 29, 2013 Investing based on the economic and political realities facing individual U.S. states is offering an … Read more

President’s 2014 Budget Cuts State, Local Grants

GFOA News Letter April 18, 2013 On April 10,  2013, the White House sent to Congress a $3.78 trillion budget proposal  for fiscal 2014, which included a combination of revenue raisers and  spending cuts designed to reduce the federal budget … Read more

Take Five: Muni mavin Ronald Bernardi on the tremors from Stockton

Trader says bankrupcty will likely shake up tax-exempt landscape in California By Jeff Benjamin Apr 9, 2013 Ronald Bernardi, a municipal bond trader and president of Bernardi Securities Inc., puts the Stockton, Calif. bankruptcy in perspective. For investors, he said, … Read more

Q&A with Bill Gross: Making a case for bonds, even as returns falter

The Pimco chief discusses his outlook on bonds, interest rates and why the so-called great rotation out of bonds isn’t likely to happen By Jason Kephart Mar 10, 2013 First, the good news: Bill Gross, co-founder of Pacific Investment Management … Read more

Jim Rogers Joins Bill Gross Warning on Treasuries

By Wes Goodman – Feb 7, 2013 Investor Jim Rogers joined Bill Gross, who runs the world’s biggest bond fund, in warning that a rout that sent Treasuries to their biggest loss last month in almost a year probably isn’t … Read more

Clear of fiscal cliff, munis facing another volatile patch

Threat to tax-exempt status ‘clear and present danger’ By Jeff Benjamin January 9, 2013 The municipal bond market, having weathered the year-end fiscal cliff deal with its tax-exempt status unchanged, is poised to hit another pocket of volatility leading up … Read more

More fiscal challenges on the horizon

Spending cuts and debt ceiling still must be resolved By Mark Schoeff Jr. January 6, 2013 Legislation approved by Congress last week to avert hundreds of billions of dollars in tax increases and spending cuts may turn out to be … Read more