WASHINGTON >> Long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell this week, the second week of declines after snapping a nine-week run of increases.

Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the rate on 30-year fixed-rate loans eased to an average 4.12 percent from 4.20 percent last week. That was still sharply higher than a 30-year rate that averaged 3.65 percent for all of 2016, the lowest level recorded from records going back to 1971. A year ago the benchmark rate stood at 3.92 percent.

The average for a 15-year mortgage declined to 3.37 percent from 3.44 percent last week.

Mortgage rates surged in the weeks since the election of Donald Trump. Investors in Treasury bonds bid yield rates higher because they believe the president-elect’s plans for tax cuts and infrastructure spending will spur inflation.

Delta posts better-than-expected revenue

ATLANTA >> Delta reported better-than-expected revenue in the fourth quarter, while its adjusted profit met Wall Street’s view. The airline benefited from lower fuel costs.

For the three months through December, Delta earned $622 million, or 84 cents a share. A year earlier the Atlanta-based company earned $980 million, or $1.25 a share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains, were 82 cents a share.

Revenue slipped to $9.46 billion from $9.5 billion but beat the $9.35 billion that analysts polled by Zacks Investment Research anticipated.

Feds accuse Fiat of cheating on emissions

WASHINGTON >> The U.S. government accused Fiat Chrysler on Thursday of failing to disclose that software in some of its pickups and SUVs with diesel engines allows them to emit more pollution than allowed under the Clean Air Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a “notice of violation” to the company that covers about 104,000 vehicles including the 2014 through 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram pickups, all with 3-liter diesel engines. The California Air Resources Board took similar action.