Rates on 30-year mortgages at lowest since at least 1971

Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:01:11 -0500
Rates on 30-year mortgages at lowest since at least 1971

Fixed-rate mortgage rates fell again this week, with the 30-year
fixed-rate mortgage setting another record low, at least since Freddie
Mac began doing its weekly survey in the early 1970s.

MARKET SNAPSHOT: U.S. STOCKS RISE SLIGHTLY IN LIGHT PRE-HOLIDAY TRADE

Stocks open higher in light pre-holiday trading, gaining ground as
U.S. data on consumer spending and durable goods reported for November
come in better than expected.

ECONOMIC REPORT: U.S. DURABLE-GOODS ORDERS OFF 1% LAST MONTH ON TRANSPORTATION

Orders for U.S.-made durable goods were not as weak as forecast in
November, Commerce Department data indicate.

ECONOMIC REPORT: UNEMPLOYMENT LINES LONGEST IN 26 YEARS

The U.S. labor market continues to worsen, with unemployment lines
stretching to the longest in 26 years last week, the Labor Department
reports.

EXPORTERS MEET TO CREATE OPEC-STYLE GAS CARTEL: REPORT

Energy ministers from some of the world's biggest exporters of natural
gas have agreed to create a producers' group that will coordinate
forecasts, investments and relations to make the gas market less
unpredictable, according media
reports on Wednesday.