Fannie, Freddie Boost Risk to Levels That Once Shook Wall Street
Bloomberg 2026-06-25 11:00:00
Context: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two giant mortgage finance companies, are significantly increasing their interest-rate risk in their investment portfolios. This move has driven a key gauge of their exposure to levels last seen two decades ago, a period that was marked by significant financial turmoil. The rapid growth of their portfolios has raised concerns about the potential impact on the financial markets.
Key Facts
- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are taking on more interest-rate risk in their rapidly growing investment portfolios, driving a key gauge of their exposure to levels that rattled Wall Street two decades ago.
- The increased risk-taking is occurring as the two companies are growing their investment portfolios at a rapid pace.
- The key gauge of their exposure has reached levels not seen since the early 2000s, a period that was marked by significant financial turmoil, including a major crisis in 2008.