Primary bond market

The city is folding together separate syndicate and advisor teams on $1.2 billion of general obligation and Sales Tax Securitization Corp. refunding deals.

Chicago officials say the city will complete its $3 billion securitization program with a $600 million deal as soon as January.

The backloaded maturity schedule of the debt brings comparisons to the city's supposedly abandoned "scoop-and-toss" practices.

A pre-marketing wire on the Sales Tax Securitization Corp.'s $366.2 million of tax-exempts indicates the Chicago deal may see wider spreads than in its bond sale last month.

Bridgeview, Illinois is the second Illinois home rule community to take advantage of new borrowing program.

The Railsplitter Tobacco Settlement Authority will price a $679 million current and advance refunding of tobacco bonds.

Strong legal and structural protections earned the debt top grades from Kroll and Fitch. S&P wasn't as bullish.

The allure of promised savings persuaded most Chicago City Council members.

Chicago hopes to get into the market by year's end with the first of up to $3 billion of refunding under new credit.