SQFT - Rents Paid Dividends Raised

• U.S. equity markets climbed to fresh record highs this past week as better-than-expected employment data eased some concern over threats of another potential wave of COVID-related economic restrictions.
• The U.S. economy added 942k jobs in July, while continuing jobless claims fell to post-pandemic lows as additional states phased out Federal supplemental pandemic-related unemployment benefits.
• Real estate equities continued their strong performance this week amid a frenetic slate of earnings reports and major M&A developments, while leapfrogging over commodities as 2021's best-performing asset class.
• Rents Paid, Dividends Raised. Nine more equity REITs announced dividend increases this week, bringing the full-year total up to 77 - and just shy of 100 including mortgage REITs.
• Continuing a wave of REIT consolidations, VICI Properties - the largest casino REIT - announced plans this week to acquire MGM Growth Properties to form one of the largest REITs.

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