Reuters - New orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods notched their biggest decline in five months in June, while applications for mortgages fell last week in a sign that economic conditions remain fragile.

Reuters - Companies that service risky residential mortgages are warning U.S. officials that a key program to slow foreclosures may push some financing costs higher and derail their efforts, said a leading subprime firm.

AP - The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged four people and a Phoenix-based company with securities fraud for orchestrating a mortgage lending scam that raised nearly $200 million from investors.

Reuters - Companies that service risky residential mortgages are warning U.S. officials that a key program to slow foreclosures may push some financing costs higher and derail their efforts, said a leading subprime firm.

AP - Private equity firm Apax Partners launched a cash tender offer at $28.50 a share Tuesday to acquire all outstanding shares of consumer finance Web site operator Bankrate Inc.

AP - The Obama administration, scrambling to get its main housing initiative on track, extracted a pledge from 25 mortgage company executives to improve their efforts to assist borrowers in danger of foreclosure.

AP - Insurer American International Group Inc. said on Tuesday that it closed the sale of its life insurance premium finance business for $679.5 million in cash.

Reuters - Senior U.S. housing officials and leading mortgage companies on Tuesday will make a fresh commitment to help troubled borrowers keep their homes and will promise to expand foreclosure-prevention aid, sources familiar with the plans said.

Reuters - Senior U.S. housing officials and leading mortgage companies on Tuesday will make a fresh commitment to help troubled borrowers keep their homes and will promise to expand foreclosure-prevention aid, sources familiar with the plans said.

AP - The Federal Reserve is reaching out to Americans to get a more detailed picture of how the country's economic debacles have affected household finances.