WASHINGTON, March 8 (UPI) -- Federal authorities are investigating subprime mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp. for possible securities fraud, sources say.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- The U.S. Treasury Department is "aggressively pursuing" a three-part plan to help homeowners avoid foreclosures, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Monday.

SACRAMENTO, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- A lawmaker urged California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Friday to call a special legislative session to deal with the expanding subprime mortgage crisis.

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Citigroup Inc. announced it will acquire what remains of Ameriquest, formerly the biggest U.S. subprime mortgage operation, The Los Angeles Times reported.

MELVILLE, N.Y., Aug. 3 (UPI) -- American Home Mortgage has lost its battle with "disruptions" in the secondary mortgage market.

MCLEAN, Va., July 9 (UPI) -- U.S. home sales will drop to their lowest level in six years as mortgage rates and foreclosures increase, U.S. mortgage buyer Freddie Mac forecast Monday.

WILMINGTON, Del., April 2 (UPI) -- Troubled U.S. subprime lender New Century Financial Corp. filed for Chapter 11 protection Monday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del.

IRVINE, Calif., March 19 (UPI) -- California's beleaguered subprime mortgage lender New Century Financial Corp. said Monday four additional states ordered it to stop doing business in them.

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Rising loan default rates among borrowers with spotty credit are hurting the U.S. subprime mortgage business, a published report said. Defaults and related financial troubles affecting mortgage companies could hurt a broad segment of the U.S. housing mark

ORANGE, Calif., May 2 (UPI) -- California's ACC Capital Holdings Corp., owner of Ameriquest Mortgage Co., is dismissing 3,800 workers and closing 229 branches.