FOMC preview: No move this time, and the future is murky

While economists agree the Federal Open Market Committee will keep rates in a range between 4.25% and 4.5%, there is no consensus about future cuts. The specter and economic implications of tariffs coupled with still above-target inflation and a healthy labor market will sideline policymakers at this week's meeting, analysts said, but not everyone agrees when the next rate cut will be.

Register for The Bond Buyer’s Southeast Public Finance conference. This year’s event is May 14-15 in Atlanta.

Mass transit agencies in Dallas and Austin are in the bullseye of Texas legislation that could have implications for their outstanding bonds and planned debt issuance. 

The Bond Buyer is excited to announce that nominations are open for this year’s class of the Hall of Fame of municipal finance and the 10th annual class of Rising Stars, a program showcasing the brightest young minds in this industry.

Amid hundreds of millions of illiquid bonds issued for a Maryland cancer treatment center that is in default on its payments, roughly $6 million of the paper recently traded for five cents on the dollar. "That trade is just stunning," said a high-yield buyside veteran. "Talk about a wipeout." The Maryland Proton Treatment Center is one of several proton treatment centers financed by unrated municipal bonds that are facing challenges.

Watch what the municipal bond industry’s innovators and influencers are saying in our Leaders series of video interviews. Check out our lineup of future live interviews and archived conversations.

Oklahoma will ban state and local government contracts with municipal bond underwriters and others that "discriminate" against the firearm industry under a bill signed into law Monday by Gov. Kevin Stitt. The law takes effect Nov. 1 and applies to contracts worth $100,000 or more.

Save the date: The Bond Buyer’s Infrastructure conference comes to Boston on Sept. 29 and Sept. 30.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire unveiled a fiscal 2026 budget on Tuesday that he said was balanced through an ongoing reorganization of city government. Efficiencies, common sense, as well as the elimination of waste and conflicts of interest and a recent voluntary retirement program for municipal workers led to cost savings, according to the mayor.

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