Purchases Weak at Freddie, Strong at Fannie

Freddie Mac acquired $35.19 billion in loans during September, its second-worst purchase month of the year.Meanwhile, Fannie Mae acquired $63.45 billion, its fourth-best purchase month of the year. For the year to date, Freddie Mac has purchased $383.75 billion in loans, and Fannie has bought $560.01 billion. It has been anticipated that Fannie might grow more slowly in coming months as it tries to raise additional capital to please its regulator. However, September's purchases reflect commitments entered into during the summer. Meanwhile, Freddie's retained portfolio fell slightly in September, to $660.71 billion, from $661.35 billion the month before. Fannie's portfolio increased to $904.76 billion from $895.42 in August. The two government-sponsored enterprises can be found online at http://www.freddiemac.com and http://www.fanniemae.com.