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Health nominee Sebelius reveals tax errors (Reuters)

Reuters - Kathleen Sebelius, named as U.S. health secretary by President Barack Obama, became his latest nominee to reveal income tax issues, saying on Tuesday she paid nearly $8,000 to settle errors over three years.
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Auditor: Bailed-out banks use aid differently (AP)

AP - Banks that have received federal aid are using the money as they see fit, in some cases providing new loans to customers, retiring debt or buying mortgage-backed securities, a chief investigator told Congress on Tuesday.
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ECB refi rate to hit new record low, other steps eyed (Reuters)

Reuters - The European Central Bank is expected to cut its main interest rate to a new record low of 1 percent on Thursday and step up efforts to boost the flow of funds from banks to euro-zone companies and households.
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Bargains in the REIT Wreckage (BusinessWeek Online)

BusinessWeek Online - After a terrible 2008, real estate investment trusts are having an awful 2009. The SPDR Dow Jones Wilshire REIT (NYSEArca:RWR - News) exchange-traded fund, which tracks 82 REITs, has dropped 35% after plunging about 45% in 2008. On Mar. 19, Moody's downgraded General Growth Properties to "C," its lowest rating above default, prompting another wave of selling.
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Regulators see new role for Fannie, Freddie: report (Reuters)

Reuters - The regulator of U.S. government-controlled Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is looking at ways the two firms might help finance small mortgage banks hobbled by a dearth of credit, the Wall Street Journal reported.
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Fla. Realtor uses boat to display foreclosed homes (AP)

Realtor Marc Joseph shows potential real estate buyers a map of the area as they ride by pontoon boat to view vacated properties Thursday, March 26, 2009 in Cape Coral, Fla.  Joseph runs Foreclosure Tours R Us, a real estate company that shows foreclosed properties to potential buyers by bus and pontoon boats. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)AP - Here at the epicenter of the nation's housing crisis, an ebullient Marc Joseph bounces off a pontoon boat onto a dock behind a lovely waterfront home — it was recently vacated when its former inhabitants couldn't pay the mortgage.


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Bargains in the REIT Wreckage (BusinessWeek Online)

BusinessWeek Online - After a terrible 2008, real estate investment trusts are having an awful 2009. The SPDR Dow Jones Wilshire REIT (NYSEArca:RWR - News) exchange-traded fund, which tracks 82 REITs, has dropped 35% after plunging about 45% in 2008. On Mar. 19, Moody's downgraded General Growth Properties to "C," its lowest rating above default, prompting another wave of selling.
Filed Under: Uncategorized by: Yahoo! News: Personal Finance News

Senate panel to draft credit card bill (Reuters)

Reuters - Key congressional panels are set to meet next week to discuss credit card legislation aimed at cleaning up unfair and deceptive practices that have slapped consumers with unexpected fees and rate hikes.
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Obama touts refinancing for struggling homeowners (AP)

AP - As rates on 30-year mortgages fall to their lowest levels on record, President Barack Obama is pointing to refinancing as a lifeline for homeowners being stung by plunging home values.
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Mortgage rates drop to record low (AP)

A condominium is put up for sale in San Francisco, California in this August 14, 2008 file photo. In some U.S. markets, prices appear to have fallen enough to make buying cheaper than renting. Mix that with mortgage rates that are near record lows and renters who want to become buyers are rejoicing.  To match feature USA-ECONOMY/HOUSING     REUTERS/Robert Galbraith/Files (UNITED STATES BUSINESS)AP - Rates on 30-year mortgages fell this week to the lowest level on record after the Federal Reserve launched a new effort to assist the staggering U.S. housing market.