Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers have dominated recent headlines, but a little-noticed $28 million settlement earlier this month between the Federal Trade Commission and what's left of Bear Stearns symbolizes the housing boom era products -- and practices -- that started a lot of the trouble. -
Settlement Sheds Light on the Boom's Bad Practices
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Merrill Lynch and Lehman Brothers have dominated recent headlines, but a little-noticed $28 million settlement earlier this month between the Federal Trade Commission and what's left of Bear Stearns symbolizes the housing boom era products -- and practices -- that started a lot of the trouble.-
By Kenneth R. Harney