Research's Municipal Analysis Ranks High in Industry Survey

Published: November 2003

ML's top-ranked Municipals Research department has once again won across-the-board praise in a key industry survey.

Smith's Research & Ratings Review, in its 11th annual All-Star Municipal Analysts Team, named four of the group's members to first-place slots, with the fifth colleague in second place.

"Congratulations on your impressive results in this year's Smith Poll," MD Tom Sowanick, director of Global Strategy and Economics Research, wrote to the team. "It is outstanding that everyone in the municipal research department was ranked this year and did so well."

Among the team members, John Hallacy won two first-place berths, as director of Sell Side Research and for his work in General Obligation bonds. Also ranked in first place was Kurt van Kuller, in housing bonds, Phil Fischer, municipal strategy, and Ying-Chen Li, derivatives. Rounding out the strong finish was Clare Curley Pickering, who was ranked second for her work in municipal research related to hospitals.

Smith's Research, a monthly newsletter based in Norwalk, Connecticut, that covers municipal analysis and fixed income research, surveyed 215 municipal analysts at 70 firms. The All-Star Team was founded in 1992 to provide "recognition for excellence in municipal research wherever it is conducted."