Paulson Outlines His 'Bold' Bailout

Panic eases after turbulent trading, but big test is yet to come

(NEWSER) - Fears of a collapse of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac finally eased yesterday after a stomach-churning rollercoaster ride that saw a 50% nosedive for the mortgage giants in early trading, writes the Wall Street Journal. A week of panic, prompted in part by reports that the government was preparing rescue scenarios, seem to have abated, as Fannie and Freddie were able to continue their regular borrowing. But a bigger test looms Monday when Freddie is due to sell $3 billion of short-term debt. More»

(NEWSER) - Freddie Mac, the swamped mortgage giant seized by the government two months ago, asked for $13.8 billion from the Treasury today after a record quarterly loss plunged its net worth into the negative, Bloomberg reports. Sister company Fannie Mae, also under government control, said this week it might need funds beyond the $100 billion previously earmarked for each of the firms before the end of the year. More»

Europe, Japan, US futures see market surge

(NEWSER) - European and Japanese stocks saw their biggest surge since January and US futures climbed amid news of the Treasury Department’s plan to take charge of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Bloomberg reports. Europe's UBS AG, pounded by subprime losses, and Japan’s Mizuho Financial Group, its biggest bank by assets, jumped 10% after Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced the establishment of a conservatorship for the mortgage lenders. More»

Investors want Treasury to take the lead on mortgage giants sooner rather than later

(NEWSER) - A federal bailout for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac looks more likely every day, both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times report, as the mortgage giants find it increasingly difficult to borrow and their stock continues to take a pounding. Freddie was able to auction $3 billion in debt yesterday, but at unusually hefty interest rates, which in turn could be passed on to borrowers. More»

Madcap weekend recasts Treasury Secretary in Clintonian mold

(NEWSER) - Henry Paulson had a very busy weekend. The treasury secretary had been formulating contingency plans for bailing out beleaguered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for weeks, but Friday’s crisis came before those plans were in place, the Wall Street Journal reports in a reconstruction of events leading to the rescue, culminating in the frenzied weekend scramble to negotiate the particulars with the Fed and Congress. More»