WASHINGTON (AP) – 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.
The company, based in McLean, Virginia, won’t pay a dividend to the U.S. Treasury next month. Freddie previously has paid $98.2 billion in dividends, exceeding its government bailout of $71 billion.
The government rescued Freddie and larger sibling Fannie Mae during the financial crisis in September 2008, when they veered toward collapse from losses on risky mortgages in the housing market bust.