Banking, finance, and taxes

Freddie Mac (FRE) Manages To Lose $25 Billion

FedFreddie Mac (FRE) reported a net loss of $25.3 billion, or $19.44 per share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, compared with a net loss of $1.2 billion, or $2.07 per share, a year earlier.

Third-quarter results were driven primarily by a non-cash charge of $14.3 billion related to the establishment of a partial valuation allowance against the company’s deferred tax assets, $9.1 billion in security impairments on available-for-sale securities and $6.0 billion in credit-related expenses arising from the dramatic deterioration in market conditions during the third quarter, including declining home prices, increasing unemployment, a significant decline in consumer spending and a considerable tightening of both consumer and business credit

Douglas A. McIntyre

Credit Card Companies Are Doing Something Nuts

Credit card companies are at war. The biggest issuers are handing out free rewards and benefits to win the best customers.

It’s possible to find cards paying unlimited 1.5%, 2%, and even more today. That’s free money for qualified borrowers, and the type of thing that would be crazy to pass up. Those rewards can add up to thousands of dollars every year in free money, and include other benefits as well.

We’ve assembled some of the best credit cards for users today.  Don’t miss these offers because they won’t be this good forever.

 

Flywheel Publishing has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Flywheel Publishing and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

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