As institutions advance bond transactions to the market, a common step for many borrowers is to obtain a long-term bond rating for the issue. This rating is a signal to investors of an institution’s creditworthiness, i.e., its ability to repay its debt obligations. The “Big Three” bond rating agencies are Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch, which control most of the global bond rating market
In our previous market update published in mid-May, we focused on interest rate volatility and signaling from the Fed on its rate outlook for the remainder of the year. While rate volatility has somewhat calmed, the interest rate environment is still elevated relative to the last several years
Markets have remained volatile through the first four months of 2024, continuing a theme that we observed at the end of last year. Rates have moved significantly higher and equity indexes sit near all-time highs. However, there is significant uncertainty around how the rest of the year will unfold
In 2023, we had the opportunity to positively impact numerous higher education institutions, non-profits, and governmental entities advising on matters related to long-term capital planning, capital markets access, interest rate hedging programs, alternative financing solutions, the investment of bond proceeds, budget process improvements, and many other unique projects
The third quarter of 2023 has seen significant market movements and much uncertainty around the United States’ economic outlook for 2024 as the Federal Reserve attempts to steady inflation. Absolute yields as well as credit spreads have widened meaningfully across the credit spectrum
As we’ve passed the mid-year point in 2023, rating agencies have published higher education sector updates and median data for fiscal year 2022
After a whirlwind 2022, many had hoped for calmer markets in the first quarter of 2023. While the overall performance of the market was positive, the first few months of the new year were anything but calm. We saw stubborn inflation, substantial interest rate movement, and the first significant banking crisis since the great recession
The municipal market landscape in 2022 was a meaningful departure from what we experienced in 2021 and 2020, which were banner years for issuance of municipal debt
ESG, or “Environmental, Social, and Governance” has been a hot topic of conversation across the financial world for years, with its weight and influence on investing decisions and credit profiles continuing to grow and expand
In a welcome change from recent years, this year all three rating agencies have assigned a “Stable” outlook to the higher education sector for the first time since 2017
