[too_cool_for_skool]

Fannie & Freddie are technically private corporations, so any profits go to the shareholders. I just looked up both companies on finance.yahoo.com and the US government is not listed as a major shareholder. Someone please correct me if I’ve overlooked something.

[politicket]

Someone please correct me if I’ve overlooked something.

You've got everything right, except that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are publicly traded companies, not private.

The Chinese are major shareholders in both corporations.

[politicket]

P.S.: I should have cited my comment about China and its shareholder status. Here it is.

[TheBattman]

But if the Fed buys up stocks to shore them up,that makes the Federal Government major a shareholder.