As speculators continued to drive up the price of government-sponsored mortgage purchasing giant Freddie Mac, the firm leaked good news on Monday: Its listing on the New York Stock Exchange may not be in danger, after all.

Government regulators are poised to shutter Guaranty Financial Group Inc. on the heels of last week's takeover of Colonial Bank, feeding concerns about a new widespread collapse in the banking system and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's ability to handle it.

Anna Ramirez had a tough day by any standard. First, there was the knock at her door by police. Then the forcible ejection of her husband, daughter and grandchildren from the property, and the scattering of their furniture across the front lawn.

Although the global recession is diminishing, the period of above-average growth, characteristic of normal recoveries, may be short-lived or nonexistent, the chief economist for the International Monetary Fund warned Wednesday.

Another major mortgage insurer has beefed up its online information services to tackle the rising flow of residential defaults and foreclosures.

In spite of recent positive signs in the housing market, the National Association of Home Builders announced a series of cost-cutting measures to help it cope with the downturn.

As part of a major move to combat foreclosure fraud, California's top attorney yesterday issued an order to crack down on unregistered foreclosure consultants and loan modifiers making empty promises.

Think of it as Craigslist, only for loans.

In the next five years, growth will be listless and another recession will be likely, one prominent Harvard economist told Reuters.

Home sales rose in 39 states last quarter and median prices rose 4 percent, offering hope for the residential market's immediate future, according to an industry report released Wednesday.