Bernanke says GSE debt backing must be maintained (Reuters)

Posted by | Personal Finance | Friday 31 October 2008 4:03 pm

Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke pauses during remarks at the 2008 National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week Conference in Washington, in this September 9, 2008 file photo. (Jason Reed/Files/Reuters)Reuters - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Friday that U.S. backing for the debt issued by home mortgage finance firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in their current form must stand firm, even though it is appropriate to debate their future.

--- Reuters ...

JPMorgan expanding mortgage-modification program (AP)

Posted by | Personal Finance | Friday 31 October 2008 2:23 pm

AP - JPMorgan Chase & Co. said Friday it is expanding its program to modify mortgages in an effort to avoid foreclosures on up to $70 billion in loans.

--- AP ...

Bernanke says backing of GSE debt must be maintained (Reuters)

Posted by | Personal Finance | Friday 31 October 2008 1:21 pm

Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke pauses during remarks at the 2008 National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week Conference in Washington, in this September 9, 2008 file photo. (Jason Reed/Files/Reuters)Reuters - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Friday it is appropriate to debate the future of mortgage finance firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , but U.S. backing for debt they issue in their current form must stay firm.

--- Reuters ...

GMAC may become bank, eyes massive debt overhaul (Reuters)

Posted by | Personal Finance | Thursday 30 October 2008 9:28 pm

Reuters - GMAC LLC, the money-losing auto finance and mortgage provider, on Thursday confirmed it was seeking to become a bank holding company, and said it plans to overhaul and slash its debt load, barely four months after completing a $60 billion refinancing package.

--- Reuters ...

Nevada, Michigan, Florida lead ‘underwater’ list (AP)

Posted by | Personal Finance | Thursday 30 October 2008 7:59 pm

AP - Here's a shocker: almost half of Nevada homeowners with a mortgage owe more to the bank than their homes are worth.

--- AP ...

Banks asking for credit card debt forgiveness (AP)

Posted by | Personal Finance | Thursday 30 October 2008 4:31 pm

Chart shows total consumer credit outstanding and delinquency rates at all banks since 1991; two sizes;AP - With defaults on credit card debt spiraling amid a global financial downturn, banks already reeling from the mortgage crisis are losing billions more from unpaid credit card bills.

--- AP ...

Insight: The masters lost our trust (FT.com)

Posted by | Personal Finance | Thursday 30 October 2008 12:45 pm

FT.com - Sherman McCoy, the fictional 1980s "Master of the Universe" Wall Street bond trader, had his sights set on a deal which could earn him $1.7m in commission payments, money he needs to pay off the mortgage on a lavish Park Avenue apartment.

--- FT.com ...

Bank of China books 3.8 billion dollars in investment losses (AFP)

Posted by | Personal Finance | Thursday 30 October 2008 1:10 am

A branch of the Bank of China on Shanghai's historic Bund on October 24. The lender has said it had posted 26.3 billion yuan (US$3.8 billion) in potential losses on assets at the end of September, partially related to US subprime mortgage-backed securities.(AFP/File/Mark Ralston)AFP - Bank of China said it had posted 26.3 billion yuan (3.8 billion dollars) in potential losses on assets at the end of September, partially related to US subprime mortgage-backed securities.

--- AFP ...

Ex-Fannie Mae chief wishes he said “no” more often: report (Reuters)

Posted by | Personal Finance | Thursday 30 October 2008 12:29 am

Daniel Mudd, former President and CEO of Fannie Mae, speaks on a panel of experts at a national housing summit held by the Office of Thrift Supervision in Washington December 3, 2007. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)Reuters - Former Fannie Mae Chief Executive Daniel Mudd wished he said "no" to more of the things the company was asked to do, he told the Wall Street Journal in an interview.

--- Reuters ...

Life Insurance Trusts and You (The Motley Fool)

Posted by | Personal Finance | Wednesday 29 October 2008 2:08 pm

The Motley Fool - Trusts are impressively flexible, offering many ways for people to use them. Revocable trusts can encompass many people's entire estate-planning needs in a single document. On the other hand, professionals have tailored some types of trusts to fit very specific situations and types of assets. The life insurance trust, primarily designed to hold life insurance policies, is a prime example.

--- The Motley Fool ...

Next Page »