MORTGAGE GIANT FREDDIE GAVE NEW CEO $8.8M INCENTIVE - 2004-02-28
Freddie Mac, the mortgage finance company that understated earnings by $5 billion, provided new Chief Executive Officer Richard Syron $8.8 million in restricted stock as an incentive to be part of the company.

His predecessor, Greg Parseghian, was awarded $19 million in total compensation. Syron, 60, was also given a base salary of $1.1 million, and a guaranteed bonus of $1.32 million for 2004.
Read the full story at New York Post

General News: Average tax refunds higher over last year - 2004-02-28
The first batch of checks sent out by the Internal Revenue Service this year showed the average tax refund increased 97 dollars when compared to those issued at the same time last year.

Homeowners who took advantage of rock-bottom interest rates to refinance their home loans during the last several years might be seeing smaller mortgage interest deductions and therefore smaller tax returns.
Read the full story at 27 First News