Communist
28th February 2010, 00:26
.
Fannie Mae's huge loss means $15 billion more in rescue cash (http://www.arkansassports.com/SPFV/tabid/327/PostId/8944/Default.aspx)
By Associated Press
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Fannie Mae <http://projects.washingtonpost.com/post200/2007/FNM/> needs another $15.3 billion in federal assistance, bringing its total to more than $75 billion. And worse, the mortgage finance company warned that its losses will continue this year.
The rescue of District-based Fannie Mae and sister company Freddie Mac <http://projects.washingtonpost.com/post200/2007/FRE/> is turning out to be one of the most expensive after-effects of the financial meltdown. The new request means the total bill for the duo will top $126 billion.
And the pain isn't over. Fannie warned Friday that it will need even more money from the Treasury, as unemployment remains high and millions of Americans lose their homes through foreclosure.
Fannie Mae reported Friday <http://www.fanniemae.com/media/pdf/newsreleases/form10k_newsrelease_022610.pdf;jsessionid=IN1YF5MH ILUXVJ2FECHSFGA> that it lost $74.4 billion, or $13.11 a share, last year, including $2.5 billion in dividends paid to the government. That compares with a loss of $59.8 billion, or $24.04 a share, a year earlier.
Fannie Mae, which was seized by federal regulators in September 2008, has racked up losses totaling $136.8 billion over the past three years.
Late last year, the Obama administration pledged to cover unlimited losses through 2012 for Freddie and Fannie, lifting an earlier cap of $400 billion.
Earlier in the week, McLean-based Freddie Mac reported a loss <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/24/AR2010022405247.html> of almost $26 billion for last year. The company didn't request any more money but is expected to do so later this year.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac play a vital role in the mortgage market by purchasing mortgages from lenders and selling them to investors. Together the pair own or guarantee almost 31 million home loans worth about $5.5 trillion. That's about half of all mortgages.
"Through this prolonged stress in the housing market, we are helping homeowners across the country, supporting affordable housing, and providing financing to keep the residential markets functioning," the company's chief executive, Mike Williams, said in a statement.
The two companies, however, loosened their lending standards for borrowers during the real estate boom and are reeling from the consequences. At the end of last year, 5.4 percent of Fannie Mae's borrowers had missed at least one payment -- dramatically higher than historic levels.
During the most recent quarter, Fannie suffered $11.9 billion in credit losses and a $5 billion write-down for low-income tax-credit investments.
That led to a fourth-quarter loss of $16.3 billion, or $2.87 a share, including $1.2 billion in dividends paid to the Treasury Department. It compares with a loss of $25.2 billion, or $4.47 a share, in the year-ago period.
Fannie Mae's huge loss means $15 billion more in rescue cash (http://www.arkansassports.com/SPFV/tabid/327/PostId/8944/Default.aspx)
By Associated Press
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Fannie Mae <http://projects.washingtonpost.com/post200/2007/FNM/> needs another $15.3 billion in federal assistance, bringing its total to more than $75 billion. And worse, the mortgage finance company warned that its losses will continue this year.
The rescue of District-based Fannie Mae and sister company Freddie Mac <http://projects.washingtonpost.com/post200/2007/FRE/> is turning out to be one of the most expensive after-effects of the financial meltdown. The new request means the total bill for the duo will top $126 billion.
And the pain isn't over. Fannie warned Friday that it will need even more money from the Treasury, as unemployment remains high and millions of Americans lose their homes through foreclosure.
Fannie Mae reported Friday <http://www.fanniemae.com/media/pdf/newsreleases/form10k_newsrelease_022610.pdf;jsessionid=IN1YF5MH ILUXVJ2FECHSFGA> that it lost $74.4 billion, or $13.11 a share, last year, including $2.5 billion in dividends paid to the government. That compares with a loss of $59.8 billion, or $24.04 a share, a year earlier.
Fannie Mae, which was seized by federal regulators in September 2008, has racked up losses totaling $136.8 billion over the past three years.
Late last year, the Obama administration pledged to cover unlimited losses through 2012 for Freddie and Fannie, lifting an earlier cap of $400 billion.
Earlier in the week, McLean-based Freddie Mac reported a loss <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/24/AR2010022405247.html> of almost $26 billion for last year. The company didn't request any more money but is expected to do so later this year.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac play a vital role in the mortgage market by purchasing mortgages from lenders and selling them to investors. Together the pair own or guarantee almost 31 million home loans worth about $5.5 trillion. That's about half of all mortgages.
"Through this prolonged stress in the housing market, we are helping homeowners across the country, supporting affordable housing, and providing financing to keep the residential markets functioning," the company's chief executive, Mike Williams, said in a statement.
The two companies, however, loosened their lending standards for borrowers during the real estate boom and are reeling from the consequences. At the end of last year, 5.4 percent of Fannie Mae's borrowers had missed at least one payment -- dramatically higher than historic levels.
During the most recent quarter, Fannie suffered $11.9 billion in credit losses and a $5 billion write-down for low-income tax-credit investments.
That led to a fourth-quarter loss of $16.3 billion, or $2.87 a share, including $1.2 billion in dividends paid to the Treasury Department. It compares with a loss of $25.2 billion, or $4.47 a share, in the year-ago period.