DeltaCharlie

Bad-News Friday Nights

I don't think the Fed made any formal announcement, but there's an oft-used PR tactic known as 'early disclosure' to break the news to the press so as to soften the impact. (Imagine how the market would react otherwise). If you read other news reports, spokespeople from Freddie Mae/Fannie Mac have made comments on this matter.

In any case, with the dire situation that the FMs are in, and the Fed wanting to stave off financial armageddon, and keep confidence in the market -- they'd do anything to lesson the panic. So far, they've been doing a pretty good job at lying to press and themselves!