After a delay of a day, Freddie Mac sold a smaller-than-expected size of $4.5 billion on its five-year reference notes. The 2.5% note sold at 99.781 to yield 2.547%, or 65 bps over comparable Treasury yields. This was 7 basis points tighter than the initial price talk of 72 basis points.

The deal is expected to settle on Friday. The note was offered by Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.

Terms were as follows:

 
Amount:         $4.5 billion 
Maturity:       April 23, 2014 
Coupon:         2.500% 
Issue Price:    99.781 
Yield:          2.547% 
Spread:         + 65 basis points 
Settlement:     April 24, 2009 
Call:           Noncallable

-By Prabha Natarjaan, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-5071; prabha.natarajan@dowjones.com