How Do Muni Bond Credit Ratings Work?

February 2, 2024 Liz Ann SondersKathy Jones
Kathy Jones and Cooper Howard interview Jane Ridley from S&P Global about how municipal bonds are rated.
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    In this episode, Kathy and Liz Ann discuss the latest Fed meeting and how companies have fared during earnings season.

    Then, Kathy is joined by Cooper Howard and special guest Jane Ridley of S&P Global. Their conversation explores credit-rating agencies and the municipal bond market. They discuss the role of rating agencies in assessing the ability of issuers to repay debt, the importance of credit ratings for investors, and the factors considered in developing ratings. They also explain the differences between general obligation bonds and revenue bonds, the frequency of rating updates, and the impact of bond maturities on ratings. The conversation addresses the track record of ratings in the muni market and the reasons for unrated municipal bonds. They also discuss what happens if a muni bond were to default.

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