The Bond Buyer's most viewed stories of 2017

January 19, 2018 11:09 AM

gustavofrazao - stock.adobe.com

Topics that our readers were most interested in last year ranged from the negotiations around tax reform to the financial crises in Puerto Rico. Readers also wanted to know about those firms that were getting out of and getting into the municipal bond business. And The Bond Buyer's addition of a new Data Workstation also made our list of the 10 most viewed stories of 2017.

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No. 1: <a href="https://www.bondbuyer.com/news/oversight-board-director-owns-at-least-265-000-in-puerto-rico-bonds" target=" _blank">Oversight board director owns at least $265,000 in Puerto Rico bonds</a>

Puerto Rico Oversight Board Interim Executive Director Ramon Ruiz owns at least $265,000 in Puerto Rico bonds and debt, in what some observers said may be a violation of federal laws on conflict of interest.

No. 2: <a href="https://www.bondbuyer.com/news/tax-bill-will-lead-to-radical-transformation-of-muni-market" target=" _blank">Tax bill will lead to radical transformation of muni market</a>

The municipal bond market will undergo a radical transformation after the expected enactment of the tax bill, with far less volume next year, much lower demand for munis from banks and property and casualty insurance companies, and more costly and complex alternative structures for advance refundings.

No. 3: <a href="https://www.bondbuyer.com/news/house-gop-calls-for-the-elimination-of-pabs " target=" _blank">Muni market blindsided by House GOP bond proposals</a>

Municipal bond market participants and infrastructure advocates were stunned and unhappy on Wednesday when House Republicans released a tax bill that would terminate private activity bonds and advance refunding bonds after this year.

No. 4: <a href="https://www.bondbuyer.com/opinion/sourcemedia-introduces-the-bond-buyer-data-workstation" target=" _blank">SourceMedia introduces The Bond Buyer Data Workstation</a>

The Bond Buyer, the primary source of news, analysis and insight for municipal professionals, has officially launched the Bond Buyer Data Workstation, a new service that gives subscribers access to dynamic, interactive secondary-market data from directly within the Bond Buyer experience.

Callie Lipkin

No. 5: <a href="https://www.bondbuyer.com/news/william-blair-shedding-municipals" target=" _blank">William Blair shedding municipals</a>

Chicago-based William Blair has decided to shed its municipal bond business, abandoning an effort that started four years ago to expand the public finance practice to new regions.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, walks through members of the media at the U.S. Capitol after a closed-door GOP conference meeting to discus tax reform at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. The Senate tax bill will delay the corporate rate cut to 20 percent until January 1, 2019 according to a Senator. The move would defy President Donald Trump's insistence that the cut from its current 35 percent rate take effect immediately. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

No. 6: <a href="https://www.bondbuyer.com/news/final-tax-bill-will-preserve-private-activity-bonds" target=" _blank">Final tax bill will likely preserve private activity bonds</a>

The final tax bill is likely to retain tax-exempt private activity bonds, which are used for multi- and single family housing, airports, water and sewer facilities, as well as nonprofit hospitals and universities, several sources said.

Hatch, Orrin Hatch flanked by Mitch McConnell and Steve Mnuchin

Senator Orrin Hatch, a Republican from Utah and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, center, speaks as Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury secretary, right, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, listen during a meeting with members of the committee on tax reform legislation at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. Senate Republicans released their vision for a tax-cut plan Thursday that would cut the corporate tax rate to 20 percent, with a one-year delay to 2019, as Congress moves quickly to fulfill one of the GOPs biggest and most long-awaited goals. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

No. 7: <a href="https://www.bondbuyer.com/news/senate-tax-would-maintain-and-enhance-pabs-kill-refundings" target=" _blank">Senate bill saves, enhances PABs, but eliminates advance refundings</a>

The municipal bond market would fare better in the Senate Republicans’ tax reform proposal, which would preserve private activity bonds and even enhance them. But advance refundings would still be terminated after this year.

Hatch, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Senate Finance Committee chairman

Senator Orrin Hatch, a Republican from Utah and chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, makes an opening statement during a markup hearing on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Nov. 13, 2017. The tax plan going before the committee would increase the federal deficit by about $1.5 trillion over the next decade -- before accounting for any economic growth that it might spur. That complicates the plan's prospects among some Republicans. Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

No. 8: <a href="https://www.bondbuyer.com/news/senate-gop-bill-expected-to-save-pabs-kill-salt-deduction" target=" _blank">Senate's tax proposal could rescue PABs and advance refundings, but kill the SALT deduction</a>

Senate Finance Committee chairman Orrin Hatch's tax reform proposal is expected to be kinder to municipal bonds and tougher on state and local governments, legislative and other sources said.

Brady, Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, speaks as Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, listens

Representative Kevin Brady, a Republican from Texas and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, speaks during a House-Senate conference meeting on the Republican led tax reform bill at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. President Donald Trump promised everyday Americans a "giant tax cut for Christmas" in a speech that the White House billed as his closing argument for a tax overhaul that congressional Republicans finished negotiating on Wednesday. Photographer: Aaron P. Bernstein/Bloomberg

Aaron P. Bernstein/Bloomberg

No. 9: <a href="https://www.bondbuyer.com/news/final-tax-bill-gives-muni-market-the-gift-of-continued-pabs" target=" _blank">Final tax bill gives muni market the gift of continued PABs</a>

The first sweeping tax overhaul bill in three decades brings holiday gifts to the municipal bond market with the full preservation of private activity bonds, after the House has initially proposed terminating them at the end of the year.

DavidBeyda.com

No. 10: <a href="https://www.bondbuyer.com/news/ubs-taps-hill-genyk-and-sanborn-to-lead-muni-revival" target=" _blank">UBS taps Hill, Genyk and Sanborn to lead muni revival</a>

UBS Wealth Management Americas is looking to revive its capital markets and public finance businesses, hiring Peter Hill from Wells Fargo and Steven Genyk from Janney Montgomery Scott and reassigning Chief Risk Officer Mark Sanborn to head capital markets and sales.