Mortgage Rates Around the Country Higher - 2004-01-29
Mortgage rates across the country increased this week amid speculation on Wall Street about when the Federal Reserve may begin to bump up short-term interest rates.

The average rate on 30-year mortgages increased to 5.68 percent, up from 5.64 percent last week, Freddie Mac, the mortgage giant, said Thursday in its weekly nationwide survey of mortgage rates.
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Whittier, Calif.-Based Bank Holding Company Posts Drop in Quarterly Profits - 2004-01-29
Quaker City Bancorp Inc. said Tuesday its profits diminished by 3.5 percent in the second quarter, under pressure from continued low interest rates and higher loan payoffs.

New loans accounted for $71.9 million of the growth, the company said. Meanwhile, mortgage-backed securities and other investments grew $54.2 million from the previous quarter.
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