Reuters - Stocks fell sharply on Friday on worry about the financial stability of the top two home financing providers Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, while oil prices hit an all-time high, clouding the outlook for the economy.

AP - Wall Street sank further into a bear market Friday, as investors dumped stocks on troubles at mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and oil's continuing climb into record territory. The Dow Jones industrials slid below the 11,000 mark for the first time in two years before paring their losses.

Reuters - Stocks rose on Thursday, helped by optimism about a major deal in the chemicals sector and after the Federal Reserve chairman said the central bank and the government are focused on stabilizing the financial system.

AP - Rates on 30-year mortgages edged up this week, while rates on other home loans were a mixed bag.

AFP - US mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are facing growing pressure as fears intensify about a potential calamity at the firms, which underpin trillions of dollars in home loans.

AFP - The US government is considering a plan to take over mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac if their finance problems deepen, US media reported on Friday.

AP - Fears that the government will be forced to rescue Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could well become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Reuters - The Dow and the S&P 500 turned negative on Thursday as the price of oil jumped more than $5 and financial stocks fell on worries about more credit losses.