SQFT - 100 REIT Dividend Hikes

• U.S. equity markets advanced to fresh record-highs this week as dovish Fed commentary, strong housing data, and signs of a COVID apex offset geopolitical concerns following a deadly attack in Afghanistan.
• Capping off the week with its 52nd record closing high - the most in a single year since 1995 - the S&P 500 gained 1.6% while Mid-Caps rallied 3.5% and Small-Caps soared 4.1%.
• 100 REITs have now raised their dividends this year following a fresh wave of increases this week. Real estate equities were broadly higher this week, led by reopening-sensitive property sectors.
• New and Existing Home Sales both topped estimates, providing further evidence of a reacceleration in housing activity following an early-Summer slowdown. Homebuilders rallied on strong earnings from Toll Brothers.
• The Fed's dovish commentary came despite fresh inflation data this week showing that the PCE Index - the Fed's preferred measure of consumer inflation - soared at the fastest annual pace in more than 30 years.

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