U.S.

The economic crisis came into sharp focus Wednesday with the death of a top executive at the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. In contrast to the Great Depression when lost fortunes triggered a rash of suicides on Wall Street, the current economic tailspin has had few reminders of the enormous pressures executives face trying to heft the burden of corporate earnings on human shoulders. No doubt, political sentiment has shifted toward the little guy.

U.S. mortgage broker the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. said the death of a top executive had delayed pricing of its five-year reference notes.

David Kellermann, acting chief financial officer at the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., was found dead Wednesday morning in his Virginia home, police said.