Fidelity National Financial Inc., which has acquired...

Fidelity National Financial Inc., which has acquired a 23.6% stake in the Hammond Co., has extended until Oct. 31 its agreement to cease buying the Newport Beach mortgage banking firm’s common stock. Fidelity, an Irvine-based title insurance company, had agreed to a two-week buying halt on Sept. 28.

Hammond officials have expressed alarm over what they see as an attempt by Fidelity to acquire controlling interest in the company. Hammond said Thursday that while Fidelity has agreed to extend the moratorium on stock purchases until the end of the month, “the prospects of a mutually acceptable longer-term standstill agreement, or other proposals, are uncertain at this time.”