MuniMarket PulseTM,is a series of podcasts featuring interviews with a variety of leading professionals in the municipal bond industry, who share their perspectives on the market and controversial issues.
Launched earlier this year by Minneapolis-based DerivActiv, MuniMarket Pulse posts new podcasts several times per month.
Travis Quast, Assistant Vice President with DerivActiv, says that the podcasts have been very well received. What began as a service to its clients has grown by word of mouth. Some podcasts, particularly those dealing with bond insurance, have exceeded the one-thousand listener mark.
Recent guests and interview topics include:
- Frank Hoadley, Capital Finance Director for the State of Wisconsin: “Hoadley Says Merging Scales Would be Very Disruptive” (4/11/08)
- Richard Ciccarone, Managing Director and Chief Research Officer at McDonnell Investment Management: “Ciccarone Has Strong Reservations on Municipal Ratings Reform, Points to History” (4/11/08)
- Bill Lockyer, Treasurer of the State of California: “Lockyer Pressures Ratings Agencies for Municipal Bond Ratings Reform” (3/28/08)
- Peter Delahunt, Senior Vice President and National Sales Manager of Municipals at Raymond James: “Delahunt Offers Bond Insurer Solution, Discusses Ratings Forbearance” (2/28/08)
DerivActiv, founded in 2002, provides portfolio risk management, and hedge accounting services. An independent company not affiliated with any bank, dealer, or financial product, DerivActiv specializes in the valuation of derivatives, a sophisticated financial instrument created within the past decade.
In 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) 133, which provides for the “fair value” reporting of all balance sheet assets and liabilities, including derivatives.