WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- Borrowing by financial institutions kept falling in January, the Federal36;Reserve said in a monthly report Friday. Lending to depository and other financial institutions as of Jan. 27 was $54 billion, down $42 billion from the previous report.
The drop came as financial conditions improve. On Feb. 1, the Fed closed some programs created to help financial companies after the Wall Street meltdown.
Friday's report showed purchases36;of36;mortgage-backed36;securities to help the housing sector rose. As a result, the Fed held $2.25 trillion in assets as of Jan. 27, up $13 billion from the previous report.