THE ECONOMY.(TO THE POINT)

Consumers end year on high note

The ABC News/Money magazine consumer comfort index stood at -9 in the week ended Dec. 28, the same level as the prior week. For the year, the index's average reading was -19, the lowest since '94. But consumers seem to be feeling better than they did earlier in the year. Of the 1,000 polled for last week's survey, 41% described the national economy as positive. That's the highest percentage this year.

U.S. banks' foreign loans up in Q3

Lending by U.S. banks to foreign borrowers climbed to $668.4 bil at the end of Q3 from $665.73 bil at the end of Q2, the Federal Reserve said. German residents were among the largest borrowers, with $127.3 bil in outstanding loans. Loans to U.K. residents totaled $77.6 bil and to French residents totaled $42.14 bil.

** The average interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose 11 basis points to 5.73%, said the Mortgage Bankers Association.

** Issuance of U.S. mortgage-backed securities swelled to $900.2 bil in '03, up 10%, data collector Thomson Financial said. But mortgage backed issues eased in Q4 to $135.1 bil ...