Reuters - U.S. stocks rose sharply on Thursday as the government reported the economy grew at a surprisingly robust clip in the second quarter and oil prices eased, driving gains in major industrial and financial companies.

AFP - British mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley said on Friday that it had endured a net loss of 17.2 million pounds (21.3 million euros, 31.4 million dollars) in the first half of 2008.

Reuters - Stocks rallied on Thursday, led by major industrial and financial companies, as oil prices eased and data showed the economy grew more quickly than expected in the second quarter.

AFP - Weak second-half earnings reported by major French banks on Thursday showed them now suffering from an economic slowdown in addition to further losses from the US subprime mortgage crisis.

Reuters - Fannie Mae's capital and reserves positions are better than market expectations, and the biggest U.S. mortgage finance company may not need any more externally raised capital, according to an analyst at Lehman Brothers.

Reuters - Stocks rose on Wednesday as surprisingly strong data on durable goods orders soothed some concern about the sluggish economy while Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac led a rally in financial shares.

Reuters - Mortgage-finance company Fannie Mae on Wednesday announced a management shake-up in an effort to come to grips with mounting credit losses and a shrinking capital base.

AFP - Fannie Mae, one of the government-sponsored mortgage finance giants facing trouble from the housing meltdown, announced a shakeup of key management Wednesday while keeping its chief executive.

Reuters - Fannie Mae , the biggest U.S. mortgage finance company, on Wednesday announced a shake-up of top executives, including the exit of its chief financial officer, in an effort to better implement a plan to preserve capital and cut losses.

AP - Mortgage finance giant Fannie Mae shook up its executive ranks Wednesday, after shares in it and sibling company Freddie Mac rose for a third straight day as investors appeared less certain a government bailout of the two troubled companies is imminent.

Reuters - U.S. mortgage applications rose for the first time in three weeks as interest rates edged lower, an industry group said on Wednesday.