Implode-o-Meter News - Freddie Mac posts $354M "Don't Worry, It's Just Derivatives" loss; Cuts Dividend; Won't Draw on Treasury

Mortgage giant Freddie Mac reported a net loss of $354 million for the first quarter, mostly due to losses it sustained on the investments it uses to hedge against swings in interest rates. The government-controlled company said Tuesday the January-through-March loss mainly reflected accounting measures, while its business remained strong. The loss compared with net income of $524 million in the same period of 2015.
As a result of the loss the company, based in McLean, Va., is skipping paying a quarterly dividend to the U.S. Treasury next month. Freddie previously has paid $98.2 billion in dividends, exceeding its government bailout of $71 billion.

Freddie also sustained a loss in the third quarter of last year, $475 million, also largely due to losses on derivatives used to hedge against interest-rate swings. While Freddie and Fannie have shown volatility in their quarterly earnings, the housing market's gradual recovery in recent years has made them profitable again.

Regarding the latter point from the title, see Freddie Mac: No Draw on Treasury for Now, But. . .

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Freddie Mac posts $354M "Don't Worry, It's Just Derivatives" loss; Cuts Dividend; Won't Draw on Treasury