Saturday, September 06, 2008

Deathwatch

clipped from www.redstate.com

About two weeks ago, I wrote in this space that some very large
tectonic plates were starting to move far below sea level in the
financial world. That was based on some unusual patterns I was
seeing in the overnight repo and money markets.

I guessed (but had no information to confirm) that whatever was
in the breeze had something to do with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,
the pseudo-private corporations that together own or guarantee
about half of all US mortgages, and today account for about 70% of
newly-originated mortgages.

This weekend, there are many reports that Fannie and Freddie
will have their managements and directors dismissed, their equity
extinguished (or nearly so), and enter what's called a government
conservatorship.

In essence, the firms will be allowed to continue their current
business operations, but under government control, and their
shareholders will be wiped out.