AP - Average rates on 30-year mortgages slid to the lowest levels since May this week, Freddie Mac said.

AP - A judge has rejected mortgage lender Countrywide Financial's effort to have some investor lawsuits heard in federal court.

AFP - The country's biggest retailer Tesco said Thursday its personal finance unit would open a customer centre in Scotland, creating 800 jobs and bringing the group nearer to providing full banking services.

AP - Synopsys Inc., which makes software to develop and test chips, said Wednesday its fiscal third-quarter profit declined 18 percent from a year-ago period helped by an income tax gain, but the results still beat Wall Street expectations.

Reuters - James Lockhart, who earlier this month said he would resign as the U.S. regulator overseeing mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac , will become vice chairman of a distressed investment group at Invesco Ltd , the company said on Wednesday.

AP - The banking unit of Wells Fargo & Co. is facing a lawsuit claiming it illegally reduced the size of customers' home equity lines of credit.

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Reuters - U.S. mortgage applications rose last week, largely reflecting a jump in demand for home refinancing loans as interest rates slid to a five-week low, data from an industry group showed on Wednesday.

Reuters - U.S. mortgage giant Freddie Mac on Tuesday named Bruce Witherell as its new chief operating officer, effective September 14.

Reuters - Asian stocks edged up on Wednesday but hovered near three-week lows hit the previous day, with investors cautious ahead of Chinese bank results and wary that profit taking will continue to stall a six-month rally.