Please, sir, I want some more

Freddie Mac, the U.S. mortgage company seized during the crisis by the U.S. government, wants a further $1.8-billion (U.S.) in help from the Treasury Department.

The company also said today it lost $4.71-billion in the second quarter, compared to a small profit a year earlier.

Credit loss provisions fell to $5.03-billion from $5.67-billion. Its rival Fannie Mae lost $1.2-billion for the quarter. Including the latest request for aid, the two have now sought almost $150-billion from the government since April 2009, Bloomberg News noted.

"We recognize that high unemployment and other factors still pose very real challenges for the housing market, and with that in mind, we continue to focus on the quality of the new business we are adding to our book to be responsible stewards of taxpayer funds as we support the nation's housing market," said Freddie chief executive officer Charles Haldeman Jr.