Mortgage giant Freddie Mac Paid Ex-CEO $19.4 Million - 2004-02-28
Freddie Mac, under investigation for possible securities violations, disbursed to Gregory Parseghian about $19.4 million in salary, cash bonuses, stock and other compensation last year for his previous job as chief investment officer and a six-month stint as chief executive of the troubled company.

Parseghian was promoted after Freddie's board of directors forced out the company's top three executives amid an accounting scandal.
Read the full story at Times Daily

Amstar Financial Services Announces Stoppage of Mortgage Lending Operations - 2004-02-28
Amstar Financial Services, Inc. declared that its Board of Directors ordered stoppage of the Company’s Florida mortgage lending operations effective March 1, 2004.

During the last quarter of 2003 and continuing into the first quarter of 2004, the company along with other mortgage lenders nationwide experienced substantial declines in mortgage originations from the prior record pace despite historically low interest rates.
Read the full story at eMediaWire