UPDATE 1-U.S. Fed balance sheet approaches $2.68 trillion

(Adds details from last data)

NEW YORK, April 28 (Reuters) - The size of the U.S. Federal
Reserve's balance sheet reached another record in the latest
week, spurred by its $600 billion bond buying program aimed at
supporting economic growth, Fed data released on Thursday
showed.

The balance sheet -- a broad gauge of Fed lending to the
financial system -- expanded to $2.675 trillion in the week
ended April 27 from $2.67 trillion the previous week.

The central bank's holdings of U.S. government securities
grew to $1.413 trillion on Wednesday from last week's $1.402
trillion total.

The Treasuries purchase was part of its $600 billion
program, dubbed QE2, with the goal to stimulate investments and
economic activity. On Wednesday, the U.S. central bank signaled
it will complete QE2 at the end of June, but will continue to
reinvest principal from its securities holdings.
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For balance sheet graphic: link.reuters.com/buf92k
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Meanwhile, the Fed's ownership of mortgage bonds guaranteed
by Fannie Mae (FNMA.OB), Freddie Mac (FMCC.OB) and the
Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) totaled
$927.02 billion, down from $933.22 billion in the latest week.

The Fed's holdings of debt issued by Fannie, Freddie and
the Federal Home Loan Bank system totaled $126.19 billion,
below $128.46 billion a week earlier.

Meanwhile, the Fed's overnight direct loans to
credit-worthy banks via its discount window averaged $9 million
a day in the week ended Wednesday, compared with an average
daily rate of $5 million last week.
(Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by James Dalgleish)