Mortgage Stocks Participate in Big Rally

Investors finally returned to the stock market Wednesday, driving the Dow Jones industrial average up nearly 300 points. Many mortgage industry stocks saw double-digit gains on the day, with shares of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each rising by more than 13%. Title insurer LandAmerica Financial Group's shares rose 24% on the day, closing at $6.84. Fidelity National Financial's shares rose 22%, closing at $17.32. One exception was IndyMac Bancorp. The company's shares fell 7%, with the stock closing at $4.36 after Moody's Investors Service withdrew its debt ratings on the company. Strength in the financial sector overall helped the DJIA rise 299 points, or 2.5%, to close at 12,270 on Wednesday. The rally cooled on Thursday, and the Dow was up about 25 points at midday.