Mortgage rates now below even lows of early 1950s

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mortgage rates have skated near record lows for weeks. But now it can finally be said: Long-term rates in the United States have never been lower.

This week, the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 4.01 percent, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said in its weekly report. That's the lowest since it began keeping records in 1971.

Until now, Freddie had pointed to data from the National Bureau of Economic Research showing that rates were lower in the early 1950s, when long-term mortgages typically lasted just 20 or 25 years.

But Freddie says that's no longer true: Today's average 30-year rate is even lower than the average 20- or 25-year rate was in …

Review: 'Crysis 2' is addictive FPS fun

ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) — The first-person shooter game that brought home PCs to their knees with its demanding hardware specifications has a new installment for platform play. "Crysis 2" has arrived, and it has consumers' wallets in its cross hairs.

This remains the genre primarily consisting of running, ducking, hiding and shooting at others doing the same. Only an engaging plot, and perhaps some groundbreaking graphics, can strengthen a title beyond those basics. "Crysis 2" takes aim on both fronts, with decent results.

I played "Crysis 2" for Xbox 360 ($59.95, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC). And while it doesn't break any tremendous new ground in detailed graphics, it is a …

The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight

A new arch-villain, The Joker (Heath Ledger), declares murderous war on Gotham City, vowing to terrorize the town until Batman (Christian Bale) surrenders. But the Caped Crusader, driven district attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), and police lieutenant James Gordon (Gary Oldman) plan to take down not just the clownish fiend but Gotham 's entire underworld. The late Ledger may be receiving the …

Paul Lead Hornets Over Lakers 108-98

Chris Paul had 27 points and 17 assists to help the New Orleans Hornets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 108-98 Friday night in what could prove to be a costly game for both teams.

Paul hobbled to the finish after hurting his left ankle on a failed drive to the hoop with 2:31 to go. Lakers center Pau Gasol and David West, however, did not make it to the final horn.

Gasol sprained his left ankle in the first quarter and needed help getting to the locker room. West had 12 points and 14 rebounds for New Orleans, but limped off the floor with just under seven minutes remaining, having reaggravated a nagging left ankle sprain that kept him out for three games a week …

Trofimov wins 2nd stage at Basque Country

Bouygues Telecom rider Yury Trofimov won the second leg of the Tour of Basque Country cycling race on Tuesday, while first stage winner Luis Leon Sanchez kept the overall lead.

Trofimov completed a tough 164-kilometer (102-mile) ride that featured six mountain ascents, rain and cool temperatures in 4 hours, 12 minutes, 45 seconds.

Cofidis' Estonian rider Rein Taaramae was five seconds back in second place as the two cyclists' dueled over the final kilometers before the Russian crossed the finish line first.

Team …

2nd bomb in London blamed on IRA

LONDON A second suspected IRA car bomb exploded before dawnSaturday, hours after a larger blast killed two people and injured 91in the financial district while stock traders celebrated theConservative Party's election win.

"This was a deliberate attempt by the IRA to impose their viewsin the debate over the future of Northern Ireland," Home SecretaryKenneth Baker, the Cabinet member responsible for law and order, saidon BBC radio.

Earlier, political commentators in Belfast, Northern Ireland,said they feared that the surprise parliamentary electoral defeatThursday of Gerry Adams, leader of the political party that supportsthe IRA, could provoke a new campaign of …

Iraq: Death toll from attack on pilgrims now 53

ZUBAIR, Iraq (AP) — An Iraqi health official says the death toll from a bomb attack on Shiite pilgrims near the southern port city of Basra has risen to 53 people.

The head of the Basra provincial health directorate Dr. Riyadh Abdul-Amir says hospitals received 53 killed and 137 wounded after the blast. He says some of the wounded are in serious condition, and warns the death toll may rise …