The Federal Reserve is unlikely to begin sales of mortgage-backed securities in the near future despite being pushed in that direction by some of its own top officials, Fed watchers said. The Fed bought $1.25trn of 30-year mortgage-backed securities in a program that ended in March that was designed to support the housing market. There is a vocal minority on the Fed keen to start MBS sales soon, said Lou Crandall, chief economist at Wrightson ICAP. However, “most FOMC members think that is a boat they would rather not rock,” Crandall said.