Rates likely to remain near current levels - 2004-01-29
The Federal Reserve's decision Wednesday not to increase a key short-term lending rate supports the likelihood that interest rates on long-term loans such as mortgages will remain near their current levels for the next few months, experts say.

Fed policy-makers cited a relative lack of inflation and slow job growth as reasons for keeping the federal funds rate -- the rate that banks charge each other for short-term loans -- untouched at 1 percent, a 45-year low.
Read the full story at San Jose Mercury News

Freddie Mac Capital Requirement Increased - 2004-01-29
Freddie Mac's federal regulator hit the No. 2 U.S. mortgage finance company with a 30 percent higher minimum capital requirement on Thursday until it cleans its books after an accounting scandal.

The regulator, the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, said Freddie Mac would have to hold 30 percent more capital than its current minimum requirement of 2.5 percent of assets plus 0.45 percent of off-balance sheet obligations until government-sponsored enterprise reports earnings in a timely fashion.
Read the full story at Washington Post