Mortgage lenders to pump $200 billion into markets
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The two largest U.S. mortgage finance companies on Wednesday won approval to pump up to $200 billion into the distressed U.S. mortgage market, the latest step in government efforts to stabilize credit markets and save the economy from recession.
Policy-makers at the Federal Reserve, regulatory agencies and the Treasury Department have let loose a flood of measures to battle rising home foreclosures and stabilize shaky markets, but some still see the need for a more direct government hand.
The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight said it was immediately easing restrictions on Fannie Mae (FNM.N) and Freddie Mac (FRE.N) to give them a bigger role in settling queasy mortgage markets. It said they should be able to buy or guarantee about $2 trillion total in mortgages this year.
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Tags: fannie mae, freddie mac, mortgage lenders
