- Federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
-
The federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac refers to the placing into conservatorship of government sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by the U.S. Treasury in September 2008. It was one financial event among many in the ongoing subprime mortgage crisis.
On September 6, 2008, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), James B. Lockhart III, announced his decision to place two Government sponsored enterprises (GSEs), Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association) and Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation), into conservatorship run by the FHFA.[1][2][3]
At the same press conference, United States Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, stated that placing the two GSEs into conservatorship was a decision he fully supported, and that he advised "that conservatorship was the only form in which I would commit taxpayer money to the GSEs." He further said that "I attribute the need for today's action primarily to the inherent conflict and flawed business model embedded in the GSE structure, and to the ongoing housing correction."[1]
The same day, Federal Reserve Bank chairman Ben Bernanke stated in support: "I strongly endorse both the decision by FHFA Director Lockhart to place Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship and the actions taken by Treasury Secretary Paulson to ensure the financial soundness of those two companies."[4] The following day, Herbert M. Allison was appointed chief executive of Fannie Mae. He came from TIAA-CREF.[5]
Background and financial market crisis
Main article: Financial crisis of 2007–2010The combined GSE losses of US$14.9 billion and market concerns about their ability to raise capital and debt threatened to disrupt the U.S. housing financial market. The Treasury committed to invest as much as US$200 billion in preferred stock and extend credit through 2009 to keep the GSEs solvent and operating. The two GSEs have outstanding more than US$ 5 trillion in mortgage backed securities (MBS) and debt; the debt portion alone is $1.6 trillion.[6] The conservatorship action has been described as "one of the most sweeping government interventions in private financial markets in decades,"[7] and one that "could turn into the biggest and costliest government bailout ever of private companies".[8]
With a growing sense of crisis in U.S. financial markets, the conservatorship action and commitment by the U.S. government to backstop the two GSEs with up to US$ 200 billion in additional capital turned out to be the first significant event in a tumultuous month among U.S.-based investment banking, financial institutions and federal regulatory bodies. By September 15, 2008, the 158 year-old Lehman Brothers holding company filed for bankruptcy with intent to liquidate its assets, leaving its financially sound subsidiaries operational and outside of the bankruptcy filing. The collapse is the largest investment bank failure since Drexel Burnham Lambert in 1990.[9][10] The 94 year-old Merrill Lynch accepted a purchase offer by Bank of America for approximately US$ 50 billion, a big drop from a year-earlier market valuation of about US$ 100 billion. A credit rating downgrade of the large insurer American International Group (AIG) led to a September 16, 2008 rescue agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank for a US$85 billion dollar secured loan facility, in exchange for a warrants for 79.9% of the equity of AIG.[11][12][13][14]
Previous attempts for GSE reform
The GSE business model faces inherent conflicts due its combination of government mission and private ownership. According to the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think-tank: "The government mission required them to keep mortgage interest rates low and to increase their support for affordable housing. Their shareholder ownership, however, required them to fight increases in their capital requirements and regulation that would raise their costs and reduce their risk-taking and profitability. But there were two other parties—Congress and the taxpayers—that also had a stake in the choices that Fannie and Freddie made. Congress got some benefits in the form of political support from the GSEs' ability to hold down mortgage rates, but it garnered even more political benefits from GSE support for affordable housing."[15]
In 2003, the Bush Administration sought to create a new agency, replacing the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, to oversee Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In 1992 in the wake of the Savings and Loan crisis, and over concern similar lending problems would develop, the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight was created as part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.[16] While Senate and House leaders voiced their intention to bring about the needed legislation, no reform bills materialized. A Senate reform bill introduced by Senator John Corzine (D-NJ) (S.1656) never made it out of the 21-member (10D/11R) Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.[17] At the time members of the 108th congress expressed faith in the solvency of Fannie and Freddie. Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), for example, described them as "not facing any kind of financial crisis." [18]
In 2005, the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act, sponsored by Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and co-sponsored by Senators Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), John McCain (R-AZ) and John Sununu (R-NH)[1], would have increased government oversight of loans given by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Like the 2003 bill, it also died in the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, this time in the 109th Congress. A full and accurate record of the congressional attempts to regulate the housing GSEs is given in the Congressional record prepared in 2005.[19][20]
Gerald P. O'Driscoll, the former vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, stated that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had become classic examples of crony capitalism. Government backing let Fannie and Freddie dominate the mortgage-underwriting. They returned some of the profits to the politicians, sometimes directly, as campaign funds, and sometimes as "contributions to favored constituents." [21]
Federal Housing Finance Agency and Treasury authority
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008—passed by the United States Congress on July 24, 2008 and signed into law by President George W. Bush on July 30, 2008 — enabled expanded regulatory authority over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by the newly established FHFA, and gave the U.S. Treasury the authority to advance funds for the purpose of stabilizing Fannie Mae, or Freddie Mac, limited only by the amount of debt that the entire federal government is permitted by law to commit to. The law raised the Treasury's debt ceiling by US$800 billion, to a total of US$10.7 trillion, in anticipation of the potential need for the Treasury to have the flexibility to support Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or the Federal Home Loan Banks.[22][23][24]
Prior GSE support measures
The September 7 conservatorship was termed by The Economist as the "second" bailout of the GSEs.[25] Prior to the enactment of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, on July 13, 2008, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced an effort to backstop the GSEs based on prior statutory authority, in coordination with the Federal Reserve Bank. That announcement occurred after a week in which the market values of shares of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fell almost by half (from a previously diminished value of approximately half of year-earlier market highs).[26] That plan contained three measures: an increase in the line of credit available to the GSEs from the Treasury, so as to provide liquidity; the right for the Treasury to purchase equity in the GSEs, so as to provide capital; and a consultative role for the Federal Reserve in a reformed GSE regulatory system.[27] On the same day, the Federal Reserve announced that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York would have the right to lend to the GSEs as necessary.[28]
Capital infusion by the Treasury
The agreement the Treasury made with both GSEs specifies that in exchange for future support and capital investments of up to US$ 100 billion in each GSE, at the inception of the conservatorship, each GSE shall issue to the Treasury US$ 1 billion of senior preferred stock, with a 10% coupon, without cost to the Treasury.[6][29] Also each GSE contracted to issue common stock warrants representing an ownership stake of 79.9%, at an exercise price of one-thousandth of a U.S. cent ($ 0.00001) per share, and with a warrant duration of twenty years.[30]
The conservator, FHFA signed the agreements on behalf of the GSEs.[30] The 100 billion amount for each GSE was chosen to indicate the level of commitment that the U.S. Treasury is willing to make to keep the financial operations and financial conditions solvent and sustainable for both GSEs. The agreements were designed to protect the senior and subordinated debt and the mortgage backed securities of the GSEs. The GSEs' common stock and existing preferred shareholders will bear any losses ahead of the government. Among other conditions of the agreement, each GSE’s retained mortgage and mortgage backed securities portfolio shall not exceed $850 billion as of December 31, 2009, and shall decline by 10% per year until it reaches $250 billion.[31]
FHFA initial actions as conservator
In the September 6, 2008 conservatorship announcement, Lockhart indicated the following items in the plan of action for the Federal Housing Finance Agency conservatorship:[2]
- On September 8, 2008, the first business day of the conservatorship, business will be transacted normally, with stronger backing for the holders of Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), senior debt and subordinated debt.[32]
- The Enterprises will be allowed to grow their guarantee MBS books without limits and continue to purchase replacement securities for their portfolios, about $20 billion per month, without capital constraints.
- As the conservator, the FHFA will assume the power of the Board and management.
- The present Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been dismissed but will stay on to help with the transition.
- Appointed as CEOs are Herbert M. Allison for Fannie Mae and David M. Moffett for Freddie Mac. Allison is former Vice Chairman of Merrill Lynch and for the last eight years chairman of TIAA-CREF. Moffett is the former Vice Chairman and CFO of US Bancorp. Their compensation will be significantly lower than the outgoing CEOs. They will be joined by equally strong non-executive chairmen.
- Other management action will be very limited. The new CEOs agreed it is important to work with the current management teams and employees to encourage them to stay and to continue to make important improvements to the Enterprises.
- To conserve over $2 billion annually in capital, the common stock and preferred stock dividends will be eliminated, but the common and all preferred stocks will continue to remain outstanding. Subordinated debt interest and principal payments will continue to be made.
- All political activities, including all lobbying, will be halted immediately. Charitable activities will be reviewed.
- There will be financing and investing relationship with the U.S. Treasury via three different financing facilities to provide critically needed support to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and also to the liquidity of the mortgage market. One of the three facilities is a secured liquidity facility, which will be not only for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but also for the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks that are regulated by FHFA.
Government support for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
In addition to the government conservatorship, which CBO estimates will increase the federal government's net liabilities by $238 billion, several government agencies have taken steps to increase liquidity within Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Among these steps includes:[33]
- Federal Reserve purchases of $23 billion in GSE debt (out of a potential $100 billion) and $53 billion in GSE-held mortgage backed securities (out of a potential $500 billion).
- Federal Reserve purchases of $24 billion in GSE debt.
- Treasury Department purchases of $14 billion in GSE stock (out of a potential $200 billion).
- Treasury Department purchases of $71 billion in mortgage backed securities
- Federal Reserve extension of primary credit rate for loans to the GSEs
National debt accounting
The on- or off-balance sheet obligations of the two GSEs, which are "independent" corporations rather than federal agencies, are just over $5 trillion, a significant amount when compared to the $9.5 trillion of officially reported United States public debt at the time of the takeover.[34] The September 6, 2008 conservatorship and the subsequent planned Treasury infusion of capital support the senior liabilities, subordinated indebtedness, and mortgage guarantees of the two firms. Some observers see this as an effective nationalization of the companies that ultimately places taxpayers at risk for all their liabilities.[35] The federal government follows specialized accounting standards set by the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board. The net exposure to taxpayers is difficult to determine at the time of the takeover and depends on several factors, such as declines in housing prices and losses on mortgage assets in the future.[36] The Congressional Budget Office director Peter R. Orszag announced on September 9, 2008 that the CBO intended to incorporate the assets and liabilities of the two companies into their federal budget planning, due to the degree of government control over the entities.[6][37] The White House Budget Director Jim Nussle, on September 12, 2008 indicated their budget plans would not incorporate the GSE debt into the budget because of the temporary nature of the conservator intervention.[37]
Bloomberg reported that according to CMA Datavision of London that "five-year credit-default swap contracts on U.S. government debt increased 3.5 basis points on September 9, 2008 to a record 18, up from 6 basis points in April," in reaction to concerns about the potential rise in U.S. debt from bailouts.[6]
Market consequences
Bank reserves
Many commercial banks in the United States own Freddie and Fannie preferred shares. Those shares have had their dividends suspended, and are junior to the senior preferred stock issued to the Treasury in the restructuring of the two companies. The market value of the preferred shares plunged after the restructuring announcement and suspension of dividends. Banks were required to write down the value of Freddie and Fannie preferred stock held in their portfolios, compounding capitalization concerns for certain U.S. banks.[38] Gateway bank agreed to be bought out by Hampton Roads Bankshares Inc. to make up for a writedown of $40 million on its stock in Fannie and Freddie, which put it below regulatory requirements to be considered adequately capitalized.[39]
Credit default swaps
In the credit default swap (CDS) market, the standard contracts typically used between parties to a swap define the action of placing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship to be equivalent to bankruptcy, because of the change in management control. In CDS parlance, this is termed a credit event, and that triggers the settling of outstanding contracts for the derivatives, which are used to hedge or speculate on the potential risk that a company will default on its bonds. The two GSEs have approximately US$ 1.5 trillion in bonds outstanding, and since the market in credit default swaps is not public, there is no central reporting mechanism to verify how many credit default swaps are linked to those bonds. One estimate floated is US$ 500 billion, and that the entire CDS market has a notional value in the vicinity of US$ 62 trillion.[40][41] Settlement on the contracts, will likely be the largest in the market's decade-long history.[41] Credit-default swaps on Fannie and Freddie have been among the most actively traded the several months leading up to the conservatorship. "Thirteen 'major' dealers of credit-default swaps agreed 'unanimously' that the rescue constitutes a credit event triggering payment or delivery of the companies' bonds," according to a memo circulated by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) after the conservatorship announcement.[42] The day after the conservatorship announcement, the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, which sets industry standardized contracts for financial derivatives and swaps, announced it was working on a protocol on how to evaluate and settle Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac credit default swaps.[43] Most of these swaps were settled on October 6, 2008.[44]
Paradoxically (in relation to typical experiences when a company issuing bonds has a "credit event"), the value of the two GSEs bonds rose to the vicinity of par value after the conservatorship. This means, that some owners of swaps that were hedging against the risk of a bond default, may be worse off, since the value of the bonds may be higher than when they purchased the swap. Cash auctions are reported to be scheduled for October 2008 to settle CDS contracts in relation to the GSEs.[40][45]
September 2008 reactions to the seizure
The immediate reactions in the finance markets on Monday September 8, the day following the seizure, appeared to indicate satisfaction with at least the short-term implications of the Treasury's intervention. Governor of the Bank of Japan Masaaki Shirakawa stated "We expect the action would lead to stabilize the U.S. [mortgage-backed securities] market, financial market and the international financial market." Governor of the People's Bank of China, China's central bank, Zhou Xiaochuan stated "From my point of view this is positive".[46]
Effects on the subprime mortgage crisis
The effects on the subprime mortgage crisis have led the government to support the soundness of the obligations and guarantees on securities issued by Fannie and Freddie to obtain funds. Those funds are in turn used to purchase mortgages from originating banks. The continuing soundness of GSE obligations enhances market liquidity (loanable funds) in the following ways:[47]
- Banks can be assured that Fannie and Freddie have funds to purchase conforming loans, so they can increase such lending. This improves liquidity in the mortgage market, lowering interest rates.
- In 2006, Fannie and Freddie insured 24 percent of all subprime loans so they needed to keep these loans viable.[48]
- Lower borrowing costs for banks typically increase the "spread" between the rate at which they borrow and which they lend. This increases bank profitability, shoring up bank liquidity and balance sheets further.
- Adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) rates are reduced, which lowers pressure on homeowners and reduces foreclosures. Lower rates also encourage new home purchases.
- The government's role as the primary investor allows a systematic loan refinancing process to be implemented. This should enable rapid loan adjustments or workouts for homeowners, which have been facing bottlenecks due to the requirement to have various investors approve the adjustments.[49] For example, the government could rapidly push-down 45-year mortgage terms and fixed, low interest rates, enabling many more homeowners to stay in their homes. This will reduce foreclosures significantly, helping to stabilize home prices.
- The government can restructure mortgages so that the loan balance is reduced to the current market value, reducing the incentive for homeowners to "walk away" from the property.
- With home prices more stabilized, the value of mortgage-backed securities receives some upward support.
Financial condition of Fannie and Freddie prior to takeover
Over 98 percent of Fannie's loans were paying timely during 2008.[50] Both Fannie and Freddie had positive net worth as of the date of the takeover, meaning the value of their assets exceeded their liabilities. However, Fannie's total assets to capital (leverage ratio) was about 20:1, while Freddie's was about 70:1.[51][52] These numbers increase significantly if one includes all of the mortgage-backed assets they guaranteed. These ratios are considerably higher than investment banks, which leverage around 30:1.[53][54]
However, there was concern that the GSEs' liquidity was insufficient to handle growing delinquency rates, such that although viable in September 2008, the scale of loss in the future would be sufficient that insolvency would occur and that knowledge of this future failure would induce immediate or near-immediate failure due to buyers refusing to buy debt. Both GSEs roll-over large amounts of debt on a quarterly basis and failure to sell debt would lead to failure due to lack of liquidity. A slower form of failure would be the issuing of debt at high cost (to compensate buyers for risk) and this would greatly diminish the earning power of both GSEs, rendering them unable to earn the money they would need to handle expected future losses. Both GSEs counted large amounts of deferred tax assets towards their regulatory capital, which were considered by some to be of "low quality" and not truly available capital. The deferred tax assets would only have value if the companies were profitable and could use the assets to offset future taxes. Both companies had experienced significant losses and were likely to face more over the next year or longer.[55]
Ongoing status of Fannie and Freddie conservatorship
In testimony before a House Financial Services Committee subcommitee on June 3, 2009, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director James B. Lockhart III presented his report, “The Present Condition and Future Status of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac”.[56] Highlights of the report include, the Treasury Department’s commitment to fund up to $200 billion in capital for each Enterprise is expected be sufficient; the Enterprises own or guarantee 56% of the single family mortgages in this country, or $5.4 trillion of the total $11.9 trillion in outstanding mortgage debt; their combined share of mortgages originated in the first quarter of 2009 was 73 percent; private-label mortgage-backed securities (PLS) are a major driver of Enterprise losses; both Enterprises are heavily involved in planning and implementing the Making Home Affordable and the Home Affordable Refinance programs. The report notes:
As of March 31, 2009, seriously delinquent loans accounted for 2.3 percent of single- family mortgages owned or guaranteed for Freddie Mac and 3.2 percent for Fannie Mae. While those are historically high levels, they compare favorably to industry averages of 4.7 percent for all prime loans, 7.2 percent for all single-family mortgages, 24.9 percent for all subprime mortgages, and 36.5 percent for subprime adjustable rate mortgages
The report provides background on the origins of PLS and the risk they present. PLS loans represent only 15 percent of mortgages but 50 percent of serious delinquencies. In contrast at year-end 2008, the loans the Enterprises held or guaranteed represented 56 percent of the U.S. single family mortgages outstanding, but only 20 percent of serious delinquencies. The credit quality of investments in PLS has proven to be much worse than the initial triple-A credit ratings of those securities would have suggested. The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the true economic value of PLS will continue to raise safety and soundness concerns.
The report notes the for-profit structure of the GSEs worked counter to prudent risk management as competition reduced both marketshare and profits, thus eroding the GSEs credit requirements. To maintain profitability, each Enterprise increased purchases of PLS backed by alternative mortgages and of high-risk whole loans. And while many had criticized the OFHEO and sought to replace it:
Purchases of PLS ultimately proved disastrous for the Enterprises. Credit and market- value losses would have been even larger had the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO), one of FHFA’s predecessor agencies, not increased the Enterprises’ capital requirement by 30 percent and capped their asset portfolios because of accounting and control problems.
The George W. Bush administration was prevented from taking action due to Senate Bill 190 of the 109 Congress never being allowed a full Senate vote, even though it was passed out of committee on a 13-9 vote along party lines (13 Republicans voted "Yes" and 9 Democrats voted "No"),[57] doing so would have prevented Congress' home ownership goals being realized.
On June 16, 2010, it was announced that the two GSEs would have their shares delisted from the NYSE.[58]
Plans to rent houses
On August 10, 2011, the Federal Housing Finance Agency asked investors for ideas on renting homes owned by Fannie Mac, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration.[59]
See also
- Government policies and the subprime mortgage crisis
- Subprime mortgage crisis
- United States housing bubble
- Conservatorship
- Nationalization
Notes
- ^ a b Paulson, Henry M., Jr.; (Press release statement) (2008-09-07). "Statement by Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. on Treasury and Federal Housing Finance Agency Action to Protect Financial Markets and Taxpayers". United States Department of the Treasury. http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1129.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ^ a b Lockhart, James B., III (2008-09-07). "Statement of FHFA Director James B. Lockhart". Federal Housing Finance Agency. http://www.ofheo.gov/newsroom.aspx?ID=456&q1=0&q2=0. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ^ "Fact Sheet: Questions and Answers on Conservatorship". Federal Housing Finance Agency. 2008-09-07. http://www.ofheo.gov/media/PDF/FHFACONSERVQA.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-07.[dead link]
- ^ Bernanke, Ben S. (2008-09-007). "Statement by Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben S. Bernanke:". Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/press/other/20080907a.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
- ^ Anderson, Jenny. The New York Times. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/a/herbert_m_allison_jr/index.html. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
- ^ a b c d Kopecki, Dawn (2008-09-11). "U.S. Considers Bringing Fannie, Freddie on to Budget". Bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=adr.czwVm3ws&refer=home. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
- ^ Goldfarb, Zachary A.; David Cho and Binyamin Appelbaum (2008-09-07). "Treasury to Rescue Fannie and Freddie: Regulators Seek to Keep Firms' Troubles From Setting Off Wave of Bank Failures". Washington Post: pp. A01. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/06/AR2008090602540.html?hpid=topnews. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ^ Duhigg, Charles; Labaton, Stephen and Sorkin, Andrew Ross (2008-09-07). "As Crisis Grew, One Option Remained". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/business/08takeover.html?_r=2&hp=&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- ^ Lehman Brothers – Who we are Retrieved September 15, 2008
- ^ Sorkin, Andrew Ross; Jenny Anderson and Ben White (2008-09-14). "In Frantic Day, Wall Street Banks Teeter". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/business/15lehman.html?hp=&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ United States Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Press release: Federal Reserve Board, met with full support of the Treasury Department, authorizes the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to lend up to US$85 billion to the American International Group (AIG), September 16, 2008
- ^ Kaiser, Emily (2008-09-17). "After AIG rescue, Fed may find more at its door". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUKN1644235820080917. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
- ^ Andrews, Edmund L.; Michael J. de la Merced and Mary Williams Walsh (2008-09-16). "Fed’s $85 Billion Loan Rescues Insurer". New York times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/17/business/17insure.html?hp. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
- ^ Dash, Eric; Andrew Ross Sorkin, with contributions by Michael J. de la Merced & David M. Herszenhorn (2008-09-17). "Throwing a Lifeline to a Troubled Giant". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/18/business/18insure.html?pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2008-09-17.
- ^ AEI – The Last Trillion Dollar Commitment
- ^ Labaton, Stephen (2003-09-11). "New Agency Proposed to Oversee Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E3D6123BF932A2575AC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
- ^ http://www.opensecrets.org/cmteprofiles/profiles.php?cmte=SBAN&cmteid=S06&congno=108&chamber=S&cycle=2002
- ^ Labaton, Stephen (2008-07-27). "New Agency Proposed to Oversee Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E3D6123BF932A2575AC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
- ^ "GovTrack: Senate Record: FEDERAL HOUSING ENTERPRISE REGULATORY REFORM... (109-s20060525-16)". Govtrack.us. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=109-s20060525-16&bill=s109-190. Retrieved 2008-10-02.
- ^ http://digital.library.unt.edu/govdocs/crs/permalink/meta-crs-7896:1
- ^ O'driscoll Jr, Gerald P. (2008-09-09). "FANNIE/FREDDIE BAILOUT BALONEY". New York Post. http://www.nypost.com/seven/09092008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/fannie_freddie_bailout_baloney_128135.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-27.
- ^ Herszenhorn, David (2008-07-27). "Congress Sends Housing Relief Bill to President". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/washington/27housing.html. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
- ^ Herszenhorn, David M. (2008-07-31). "Bush Signs Sweeping Housing Bill". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/31/business/31housing.html. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
- ^ See HR 3221, signed into law as Public Law 110-289: A bill to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes.
Access to Legislative History: Library of Congress THOMAS: A bill to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes.
White House pre-signing statement: Statement of Administration Policy: H.R. 3221 – Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (July 23, 2008). Executive office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, Washington DC. - ^ "Credit and blame: A must-read on the origins of the crisis". The Economist. 2008-09-11. http://www.economist.com/finance/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12209655. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
- ^ Irwin, Neil; Jeffrey H. Birnbaum (2008-07-14). "U.S. Unveils Plan to Aid Mortgage Giants". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/13/AR2008071301512.html. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
- ^ Paulson, Henry (2008-07-13). "Paulson Announces GSE Initiatives". United States Department of the Treasury. http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/hp1079.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
- ^ "Press Release". Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 2008-07-13. http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/press/other/20080713a.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
- ^ "Suffering a seizure: America’s government takes control of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae". Economist.com (The Economist). 2008-09-08. http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12078933. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
- ^ a b See the senior preferred stock and common stock warrant agreements disclosed by the Department of the Treasury on September 9, 2008:
- ^ "Fact Sheet: Treasury Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement". Office of Public Affairs, United States Department of the Treasury. 2008-09-07. http://www.treas.gov/press/releases/reports/pspa_factsheet_090708%20hp1128.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ^ "Statement of Federal Housing Finance Agency Regarding Contracts of Enterprises in Conservatorship". Federal Housing Finance Agency. 2008-09-07. http://www.ofheo.gov/media/PDF/FHFAStatementReContracts.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-09.[dead link]
- ^ "Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget: Stimulus Watch". 2009-02-09. http://www.usbudgetwatch.org/stimulus?filter0=**ALL**&filter1=82&filter2=**ALL**&filter3=**ALL**.
- ^ Barr, Colin (2008-09-07). "Paulson readies the bazooka: Big buyers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac debt have been shying away. The Treasury secretary wants to coax them back.". Fortune. http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/06/news/economy/fannie_freddie_paulson.fortune/?postversion=2008090615. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- ^ Raum, Tom (2008-09-08). "US rescue of Fannie, Freddie poses taxpayer risks". Associated Press. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-09-08-127573146_x.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
- ^ Armour, Stephanie; James R. Healey. "Taxpayers take on trillions in risk in Fannie, Freddie takeover". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2008-09-07-fannie-freddie-plan_N.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-13.
- ^ a b Faler, Brian (2008-09-12). "Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac to Be Kept Off Budget, White House Says". Bloomberg.com (Bloomberg LLP). http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aXJSThdqLsXg. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
- ^ Shen, Linda (September 8, 2008). Lenders With `Outsized' GSE Stakes May Need Capital, Bloomberg, Accessed 8 September 2008
- ^ Weisbecker, Lee (2008-09-25). "Gateway Bank turns to market for $40M". Triangle Business Journal. http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2008/09/22/daily38.html. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
- ^ a b "Quite an event: Testing times for the swaps market". The Economist. 2008-09-11. http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12209647. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
- ^ a b Reuters (2008-09-08). "Big Payments Are Expected in Credit Default Swaps". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/business/09credit.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
- ^ Biggadike; Shannon D. Harrington (2008-09-08). "Fannie, Freddie Credit-Default Swaps May Be Settled (Update3)". Bloomberg.com (Bloomberg). http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=ajsxbVS.W2lQ. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
- ^ "ISDA to Publish Protocol for Fannie and Freddie". (Press Release). ISDA. 2008-09-08. http://www.isda.org/press/press090808.html. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- ^ "ISDA ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF FANNIE MAE, FREDDIE MAC CDS PROTOCOL". (Press Release). ISDA. 2008-10-06. http://www.isda.org/press/press100608.html. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
- ^ Van Duyn, Aline (2008-09-11). "Insight: The adventure never ends in the derivatives Wonderland". Financial Times. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e71d3098-8028-11dd-99a9-000077b07658.html. Retrieved 2008-09-15.
- ^ "Stock Markets Soar After Freddie, Fannie Bailouts". Washington Post. 2008-09-08. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/07/AR2008090702834.html?hpid=topnews. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- ^ Cramer, Jim. "Fannie, Freddie Takeover Changes the Game". TheStreet.com. September 6, 2008.
- ^ "Private sector loans, not Fannie or Freddie, triggered crisis". Mcclatchy. 12/3/2008. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2008/10/12/53802/private-sector-loans-not-fannie.html#ixzz12xTyWY91A.
- ^ Schoen, John W. "Mortgage relief plan falling short". MSNBC. March 14, 2008.
- ^ Ivry, Bob; Lynch, Sharon L. "Fannie Mae Unsold $5 Billion Homes Bring Peril to Shareholders". Bloomberg LP. July 23, 2008.
- ^ "Fannie Q2 10Q Report" (pdf). United States Securities and Exchange Commission. August 8, 2008.
- ^ "Freddie Mac Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)". Freddie Mac. August 6, 2008.
- ^ Leverage data
- ^ Fannie & Freddie Leverage
- ^ Kopecki, Dawn. "Fannie Mae, Freddie 'House of Cards' Prompts Takeover". Bloomberg LP. September 6, 2008.
- ^ James B. Lockhart III (2009-06-03). "The Present Condition and Future Status of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac". (Congressional Testimony). FHHA. http://www.fhfa.gov/webfiles/2708/FHFA_Director's_Testimony_Final.pdf. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
- ^ Template:Url = http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-190
- ^ Chris Isidore (2010-06-16). "Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac to delist from NYSE". (News report) (CNN Money). http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/16/news/fannie_freddie_delisting/. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
- ^ "Government may rent out foreclosed properties". The Sun News. 2011-08-11. http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/08/10/2325526/business-briefs.html. Retrieved 2011-08-11.
External links
- Official web sites
- Federal Home Financing Agency (successor to the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight)
- United States Department of the Treasury
- Fannie Mae
- Freddie Mac
- Federal Home Loan Bank system
- Background and reaction
- Quealy, Keven; Dylan Loeb McClain (September 15, 2008). "A Year of Heavy Losses". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/09/15/business/20080916-treemap-graphic.html. Retrieved 2008-09-30. (Graphic of change in market capitalization of major firms eleven months)
- Who's Holding the Debt. July 15, 2008. New York Times. (Graphic depicting the holders of GSE debt; note that there are twelve Federal Home Loan Banks, GSEs included in this graphic..)
- Schneiderman, R.M; Philip Caulfield, Celena Fang, Elisabeth Goodridge and Vikas Bajaj (2008-09-15). "How a Market Crisis Unfolded: Some of the key events in the upheaval.". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/09/15/business/20080915_TURMOIL_TIMELINE.html. Retrieved 2008-09-17. (Graphic and interactive timeline.)
- Cooper, George (2008). The Origin of Financial Crises: Central banks, credit bubbles and the efficient market fallacy. Petersfield, Hampshire, U.K.: Harriman House. pp. 208. ISBN 9781905641857. http://www.harriman-house.com/pages/book.htm?BookCode=263120.
- "Fannie, Freddie and Henry". Wall Street Journal. 2008-09-09. http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-flash08.html?project=PAULSON0808. Retrieved 2008-09-09. (Interactive timeline of Treasury Secretary Paulson's changing policy actions in relation to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – requires Flash.)
- Duhigg, Charles; Stephen Labaton and Andrew Ross Sorkin (2008-09-07). "As Crisis Grew, One Option Remained". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/business/08takeover.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- Labaton, Stephen; Edmund L. Andrews (2008-09-08). "Reinventing Two Mortgage Giants: A Big Rebuild or a Teardown?". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/business/09future.html?hp=&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
- Moseley, Fred (2008-09-01). "The Bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac". Dollars & Sense. http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2008/0908moseley.html. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
- Solomon, Deborah; Michael Corkery and Liz Rappaport (2008-09-09). "Mortgage Bailout Is Greeted With Relief, Fresh Questions". Wall Street Journal: pp. A1. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122088294934209997.html?mod=hpp_us_whats_news. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
- Solomon, Deborah; Sudeep Reddy and Suzanne Craig (2008-09-08). "Mounting Woes Left Officials With Little Room to Maneuver". Wall Street Journal: pp. A1. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122083060663308415.html. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- Sorkin, Andrew Ross (2008-09-08). "Paulson’s Itchy Finger, on the Trigger of a Bazooka". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/business/09sorkin.html. Retrieved 2008-09-08.
- Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (2008-09-08). "Rescue of Mortgage Giants Displays Paulson’s Clout". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/business/09bush.html?hp. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
- Delasantellis, Julian (2008-09-09). "Paulson placates China, Russia – for now". Asia Times Online. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/JI10Dj03.html. Retrieved 2008-09-09.
Late-2000s financial crisis - Late-2000s recession
- 2008 G-20 Washington summit
- APEC Peru 2008
- 2009 G-20 London Summit
- 2009 G-20 Pittsburgh summit
- APEC Singapore 2009
- 2010 G-20 Toronto summit
- 2010 G-20 Seoul summit
Specific issues - 2000s energy crisis (2008 Central Asia energy crisis)
- 2007–2008 world food price crisis
- 2008–2009 Keynesian resurgence
- 2008–10 California budget crisis
- 2008–2011 Irish banking crisis
- Automotive industry crisis of 2008–2010
- Effects of the financial crisis of 2007–2010 on museums
- European sovereign debt crisis (timeline)
- Future of newspapers
- January 2008 Société Générale trading loss incident
- List of entities involved in 2007–2008 financial crises (acquired or bankrupt banks; business failures)
- Subprime mortgage crisis (timeline; writedowns)
- United States housing market correction
By country (or region) - Belgium
- Greece
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Latvia
- Russia
- Spain
- Ukraine
- Africa
- Americas
- United States
- Asia
- Europe
- Oceania
Legislation and policy responses Banking and finance
stability and reform- Banking (Special Provisions) Act 2008
- Commercial Paper Funding Facility
- Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
- Troubled Asset Relief Program
- Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility
- Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program
- 2008 United Kingdom bank rescue package
- China–Japan–South Korea trilateral summit
- Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Act 2009
- 2009 G-20 London Summit
- Irish emergency budget, 2009
- National Asset Management Agency
- Irish budget, 2010
- Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
Bank stress tests- EU
- US
Stimulus and recovery - National fiscal policy response to the late 2000s recession
- Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008
- Economic Stimulus Act of 2008
- Chinese economic stimulus program
- 2008 European Union stimulus plan
- American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
- Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009
- Green New Deal
Companies and banking institutions Companies in bankruptcy,
reorganization, administration,
or other insolvency proceedings
(listed alphabetically)- Air America Radio
- Allco Finance Group
- American Freedom Mortgage
- American Home Mortgage
- Arena Football League
- Babcock & Brown
- BearingPoint
- Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC
- BI-LO (United States)
- Borders Group
- Charter Communications
- Chrysler (Chapter 11 reorganization)
- Circuit City Stores
- CIT Group
- Citadel Broadcasting
- Conquest Vacations
- DSB Bank
- Eddie Bauer
- FairPoint Communications
- Friendly's Ice Cream
- General Growth Properties
- General Motors (Chapter 11 reorganization)
- Great Southern Group
- Icesave
- Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander
- Lehman Brothers (bankruptcy)
- Linens 'n Things
- Mervyns
- Midway Games
- Movie Gallery
- NetBank
- New Century
- Nortel
- Petters Group Worldwide
- R. H. Donnelley
- Rothstein Rosenfeldt Adler
- Saab Automobile
- Sbarro
- Sentinel Management Group
- Silicon Graphics
- Stanford Financial Group
- Sun-Times Media Group
- Terra Securities (scandal)
- Thornburg Mortgage
- Tribune Company
- Tweeter Opco, LLC
- Uno Chicago Grill
- Washington Mutual
- Waterford Wedgwood
- Woolworths Group
- Yamato Life
Government interventions,
rescues, and acquisitions
(listed alphabetically)- ACC Capital Holdings
- Allied Irish Banks
- American International Group
- Anglo Irish Bank (nationalisation)
- Bank of America
- Bank of Antigua
- Bank of Ireland
- Bear Stearns
- Bradford & Bingley
- Chrysler
- Citigroup
- CL Financial
- Dexia
- Fannie Mae (takeover)
- Fortis
- Freddie Mac (takeover)
- General Motors
- Glitnir
- HBOS
- Hypo Real Estate
- IndyMac Federal Bank
- ING Group
- Kaupthing Bank
- Landsbanki
- Northern Rock (nationalisation)
- Parex Bank
- Royal Bank of Scotland Group
- Straumur Investment Bank
- U.S. Central Credit Union
Company acquisitions
(listed alphabetically)- Alliance & Leicester
- Ameriquest Mortgage
- Barnsley Building Society
- Bear Stearns
- Blockbuster Inc.
- Cheshire Building Society
- Countrywide Financial
- Derbyshire Building Society
- Dunfermline Building Society
- HBOS
- Merrill Lynch
- National City Corp. (acquisition by PNC)
- Scarborough Building Society
- Sovereign Bank
- Wachovia
- Washington Mutual
Other topics Alleged frauds
and fraudsters- Nicholas Cosmo
- Fairfield Greenwich Group
- Seán FitzPatrick (Anglo Irish Bank hidden loans controversy)
- Paul Greenwood
- Angelo Mozilo
- Arthur Nadel
- Kazutsugi Nami (Enten controversy)
- Stanford Financial Group (Allen Stanford; James M. Davis; Laura Pendergest-Holt)
- Barry Tannenbaum
- UBS
- Stephen Walsh
Proven or admitted
frauds and fraudsters- Marc Stuart Dreier
- Joseph S. Forte
- Norman Hsu
- Du Jun
- Bernard Madoff (Madoff investment scandal; Frank DiPascali; David G. Friehling)
- Tom Petters
- Raj Rajaratnam (Galleon Group)
- Scott W. Rothstein
- Mahindra Satyam (Satyam scandal; Byrraju Ramalinga Raju)
Related entities - Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
- Federal Home Loan Banks
- Federal Housing Administration
- Federal Housing Finance Agency
- Federal Housing Finance Board
- Federal Reserve System
- Government National Mortgage Association
- Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight
- Office of Financial Stability
- UK Financial Investments Limited
- United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Securities involved
and financial marketsRelated topics - 2008 Greek riots
- 2009 California college tuition hike protests
- 2009 Icelandic financial crisis protests
- 2009 May Day protests
- 2010 French pension reform strikes
- 2010 UK student protests
- 2010–2011 Greek protests
- 2011 United Kingdom anti-austerity protests
- 2011 United States public employee protests
- Arab Spring
- Bailout
- Bank run
- Capitalism: A Love Story
- Credit crunch
- Dot-com bubble
- Economic bubble
- Financial contagion
- Financial crisis
- Great Depression
- Impact of the Arab Spring
- Inside Job
- Interbank lending market
- Jon Stewart's 2009 criticism of CNBC
- Liquidity crisis
- PIIGS
- Tea Party protests
- Occupy movement
- United States housing bubble
- Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Categories:- United States government sponsored enterprise
- Finance in the United States
- Debt
- Mortgage industry of the United States
- Fixed income securities
- Structured finance
- Subprime mortgage crisis
- 2000s economic history
- 2008 in American politics
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