Trade groups are wary that any capital rule issued after May could be over-turned if Democrats win the White House and control of Congress in the next election.
Federal regulators have issued a request for comment on a review of credit risk-retention standards tied to the qualified mortgage “patch” and exemptions for community-focused and three- to four-unit mortgages.
Freddie Mac, following in the footsteps of Fannie Mae, is offering buyouts to a portion of its workforce. A byproduct of the recap-and-release plan? It certainly looks that way.
Thirteen major financial institutions have agreed to pay a combined $337 million to settle an antitrust lawsuit accusing their trading desks of engaging in a price-fixing scheme for Fannie and Freddie debt.
One Freddie shareholder quipped: "It sounds like something their advisors would have recommended – to improve proforma [earnings] going into a capital raise."