* Bloomberg…
Illinois’s nearly two-year budget impasse has created a buying opportunity for municipal-bond investors willing to bear the risks, according to Citigroup Inc.
With the Democrat-led legislature and Republican Governor Bruce Rauner unable to forge agreement on how to close the state’s chronic budget deficits, Illinois’s 10-year bonds yield 4.43 percent, or 2.45 percentage point more than top-rated municipal borrowers, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That’s the biggest premium since the indexes were started in January 2013.
That may mean it’s a good time to buy, according to Citigroup. Despite the governmental gridlock, the fifth most-populous state has “strong fundamentals” and the power to tax and grow its way out of the financial hole, the bank said in a report to clients this week, citing the diverse economy and strong legal security backing its debt. While Illinois hasn’t had a full-year budget in place since June 2015, it hasn’t missed any bond payments and state law has required it to continue making monthly deposits to its debt-service funds.
“The state’s credit rating and bond prices have suffered and may present opportunity for a bold investor,” analysts Vikram Rai, Jack Muller and Loretta Bu, said. “We strongly encourage investors to take advantage of the cheapness of the front and intermediate IL GOs.”
Makes sense. The problem proved to be manageable before the last tax hike partially expired.
- Almost the Weekend - Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 10:23 am:
Musical chairs for the loss of the congressional seat will be interesting.
There’s a reason interstate and railroad tracks are at specific locations in Chicago, to keep the city as segregated as possible. It was only a matter of time before this boiled over. It’s probably happening faster than expected with the lack of budget and CPS crisis.
- blue dog dem - Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 10:26 am:
…the power to tax. Thanks Wall Street for the advise…or is that a threat?
- Grand Avenue - Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 10:28 am:
That’s a Federal tax free 4.43% baby
- Huh? - Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 10:49 am:
Grand Ave - The interest on these bonds are likely double exempt, so no state tax either.
- Ratso Rizzo - Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 11:00 am:
Is it possible that Rauner planned this all along? Could someone purposefully run for Governor just to bring a state down, Manchuria-candidate style? I wonder how much of his portfolio is tied up in State bonds…
- Ron - Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 11:00 am:
That is a fantastic return in today’s climate.
- Deadbeat Conservative - Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 11:22 am:
=That is a fantastic return in today’s climate.=
Answers Ron’s question yesterday about where our tax money is going.
- Annonin' - Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 11:56 am:
perhaps some wily watchdog/reformer/dark money lobo group could DopeyDuct how much IL paper is being held in those 65 self declared conflicts he owns.
Andy, Andy!
- RoyalPaladin - Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 1:05 pm:
I am not sure it was manageable before the tax rates expired. Yes the accounts payable did decline, but only at the expense of not fully contributing to the pensions. Factoring in what an actuary would say needed to be contributed, not state statute, things would have been bleaker
- In A Minute - Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 1:57 pm:
“For a bold investor”.
Problem is a great many funds have restrictions on buying junk rated debt. Those funds are not bold investors.
- Illinois O'Malley - Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 2:41 pm:
Does anyone here know how an individual can buy Illinois bonds? Guessing it would have to be part of a larger bond fund?
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 2:52 pm:
You don’t have to be in or buy a bond fund to purchase Illinois debt. However, if you are asking these questions, I’m going to go ahead and opine that you shouldn’t. No offense intended. One should already be an established individual investor with an open brokerage account at a registered investment adviser.
- Arthur Andersen - Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 3:01 pm:
How ’bout your Supreme Leader, Annonin’?
Are the people of IL entitled to know if he owns any Illinois Bonds or is the juice better at Amalgamated or one of those fine financial institutions up in the City? I’m sure he doesn’t get the 1 percent sucker’s rate the mope off the street pays.
- wordslinger - Thursday, May 25, 17 @ 6:10 pm:
–That’s a Federal tax free 4.43% baby–
Depends on use of proceeds. Some state GO and Build Illinois bonds are taxable.