From the Financial Times: Bank of China flees Fannie-Freddie

Bank of China has cut its portfolio of securities issued or guaranteed by troubled US mortgage financiers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by a quarter since the end of June.



The sale by China’s fourth largest commercial bank, which reduced its holdings of so-called agency debt by $4.6bn is a sign of nervousness among foreign buyers of Fannie and Freddie’s bonds and guaranteed securities.

The differences, or spreads, between Fannie's and Freddie's debt yields and Treasury yields have widened considerably since the start of the housing crisis because of jitters about the highly leveraged companies' stability. Last September, Fannie issued three-year debt at 0.55% over Treasury yields. Last week, it paid 1.23% over Treasury yields.

This selling is probably why the spread between Fannie and Freddie debt yields and Treasury debt is so high. From the WSJ last week: Deflating Mortgage Rates So there was probably more foreign selling in July and August.