Reuters - U.S. home loan demand cooled last week as rising mortgage rates curbed refinancing requests that had soared to a 14-month high, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Wednesday.

U.S. News & World Report - Much has been made of the fiscal difficulties that some European Union countries, most notably Greece, are experiencing. Less has been said about what opportunities may exist for investors interested in the countries in the EU. Dean Tenerelli, manager of the T. Rowe Price European Stock fund, says that there are many cheap opportunities in Europe. As a whole, he believes Europe is inviting for investors who are willing to look past some of the macroeconomic problems there. U.S. News caught up with Tenerelli to get his outlook for the region. Excerpts:

The Motley Fool - Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke recently described the economic outlook as "unusually uncertain," and that's likely an apt description of what many investors are feeling.

AP - CONFERENCE SCHEDULED: The Obama administration will hold a conference Aug. 17 to discuss the future of government-sponsored mortgage buyers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which almost collapsed nearly two years ago.

AP - The Obama administration, which has been under fire for not developing a concrete plan for mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, says it will hold a conference next month to discuss their future.

AFP - The US Treasury on Tuesday promised a plan to reform troubled state-backed mortgage firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by January, firing the starting gun on what is likely to be a rancorous debate.

AP - Britain's financial regulator has banned the former finance director of mortgage lender Northern Rock — the country's first major casualty of the global credit crunch — and fined him 320,000 pounds ($500,000) for misreporting figures on loan arrears.

Reuters - An auction of Ally Financial's Residential Capital has advanced into the second round, with some would-be buyers circling the assets, but a sale of the mortgage lender faces hurdles, sources familiar with the matter said.

AP - Federal regulators have banned eight individuals and companies from selling mortgage-relief services, settling charges that they used false advertising to deceive homeowners facing foreclosure.

The Newsroom - Recent Capitol Hill rhetoric about greedy lenders and a Wall Street run amok implies all mortgage lenders are thieves and scoundrels.