Finding Gems in Financial Trends
Insightful Research and Gradings Analysis by Smith's Financial Blog
Dulles Airport Expansion May Be Fueled by Muni Bonds
Dulles International Airport is embarking on one of the largest airport modernization programs in U.S. history, with a $22.5 billion capital investment that will transform the airport into a world-class international gateway. The initiative, announced by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), United Airlines, and the U.S. Department of Transportation,…...
War, Debt and the Fed
— Scott B. MacDonald, Ph.D. Summary: In the week ahead the key narratives for investors and markets are understanding the Iran war’s economic impact; looking for the emergence of any new “cockroaches” in the private credit market; and discerning how the Fed reaches a decision at its FOMC meeting on…...
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U.S. Economy — The Great Uncertainty
Forecasting the U.S. economy has become much more challenging, increasingly akin to reading tea leaves than analyzing the results of finely tuned algorithmic models. Part of the problem is that the U.S. economy has drifted into the Great Uncertainty, which is being defined by a multitude of contradictory data signals, a greater emphasis on state-led industrial policy (with massive amounts of money being pumped into targeted sectors over a relatively short period of time), and the popping-up of unexpected geopolitical problems.
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What Can Artificial Intelligence Do for You?
Can Artificial intelligence deliver for municipal bond analysts? The answer is a resounding yes! But, the first challenge for the municipal bond analyst is to maximize the beneficial aspects of AI rather than view it as a competitor, or as a longer-term replacement.
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- Wildfire - 37 uncontained large wildfires burning in the Northwest
- Severe Weather - Hurricane Lala caused flash flooding that swept away 100 homes on the big island of Hawaii.
- Disease - Measles outbreak in 47 states. 2,566 cases reported
- Economic - U.S. Unemployment rate is 4.1%, not seasonally adjusted and the economy lost 23,000 jobs in July.
- Economic - The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.67% as of August 13, 2026, down from last week when it averaged 6.69%.
