FRI News and Press, First Trust S&P REIT Index Fund From 07/26/22

In all fairness to the Atlanta Fed, some of last week’s statistical releases indicate an economic slowdown, but at a very slow pace, nothing like the rapid contraction that accompanied serious contractions in 2008-9 or 2020. Russia’s Gazprom last week notified major cust...

Most major economies are dealing with inflation highs not seen in decades. Market expectations of peak policy rates have declined since June, likely reflecting the significant slowdown in activity as well as recent commodity price declines. Tightening financial conditions as well ...

On the heels of a surprise 50-basis-point increase in the ECB’s target rate the FOMC will likely make good on another 75-basis-point increase in its target federal funds range. Governor Waller stated that he favored another 75-basis-point increase, as has St Louis Fed President...

The services side of the economy is considerably larger than the goods side and if it really is contracting at that rate, a recession is probably coming fairly soon. Investing is often a counterintuitive exercise and it is most counterintuitive – and hardest – at turning...

The 'Return to the Office' is here - but it's underwhelming. Despite 80% of employees currently in post-pandemic work arrangements, office utilization rates have remained 40-60% below pre-pandemic levels. Office leasing activity has remained surprisingly resilient at just 10% below pr...

"Bad news was good news" this past week as U.S. equity markets were broadly higher after weakening economic data in the U.S. and Eurozone pulled benchmark interest rates to two-month-lows. Delivering just its fourth up-week in the past sixteen weeks, the S&P 500 advanced 2.6% whil...

Postal Realty Trust is the only publicly traded REIT to focus on the acquisition and management of properties leased to the USPS. They are also the largest by market share, with the next top 20 portfolio owners accounting for just 11% of the market. The USPS is a high-retention te...

Early-stage inflation has passed, and the nature of today's push-side inflation isn't a real estate tailwind; instead, it's a headwind. The Vanguard Real Estate ETF is well diversified. However, real estate operators and REITs remain positively correlated. A regression analysis il...

EQC is still looking for that big deal, but with real estate market giving up gains, possibilities look better for Sam Zell to place capital. Currently the company trades at book value and is mostly cash, charging you nothing for Sam Zell's expertise. While scope to develop assets...

Although mortgage rates have stabilized a bit, they remain at some of the highest levels since 2008 and have been heading marginally higher in the past week. Given the slight rise in rates, demand for mortgages continues to predict further weakness in upcoming home sales data. Not...