WASHINGTON - US MORTGAGE finance giant Freddie Mac said on Friday it lost US$6.3 billion (S$8.8 billion) for shareholders in the third quarter but would not seek any additional bailout funds from the government.

The firm, which was seized by the government and placed into conservatorship along with rival Fannie Mae, said it had a net loss of US$5 billion and paid a dividend to the US Treasury of US$1.3 billion in the quarter.

The shareholder-owned, government chartered firm said, however, it would not seek further Treasury aid, unlike its cousin Fannie Mae.

Freddie Mac said it had a positive net worth as of Sept 30 of US$10.4 billion, reflecting 'improved values on the company's available-for-sale securities'.

'As a result of the positive net worth, no additional funding from the US Department of the Treasury was required,' it said.

'During this critical time for homeowners and the market, we continued to support the recovery of the housing market by providing a stable source of mortgage funding and helping people keep their homes,' said Freddie Mac chief executive Charles Haldeman. 'In the third quarter, we helped more than 100,000 borrowers avoid foreclosure... We expect this to continue.' -- AFP