30-year mortgage rates at 5.79%, highest this year - 2005-03-03
Rates on 30-year mortgages went up for a third straight week, pushing the level to the highest point this year.

Freddie Mac's weekly survey out Thursday showed that rates on 30-year, fixed rate mortgages averaged 5.79% for the week ending March 1, from 5.69% last week.

It is the third consecutive weekly increase after 30-year rates had fallen for six straight weeks, hitting a low for this year of 5.57% the week of Feb. 10.
Read the full story at USA Today

Seattle FHLB to exit Mortgage Purchase Program - 2005-03-03
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle said it will get out of one of its programs that competes with the giant securitization programs of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

In a press release on Wednesday, the bank said it is working on an "exit strategy" for the Mortgage Purchase Program (MPP) as part of its effort to decrease its exposure to interest-rate fluctuations.
Read the full story at Reuters