- U.S. equity markets retreated from all-time-highs this week as interest rates and inflation expectations jumped to mid-pandemic highs amid a Southern 'Deep Freeze' and a slate of strong economic data.
- Declining on all four trading days this week, the S&P 500 retreated by 0.7% this week while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 dipped 1.6% amid a rotation out of many recent high-flyers.
- Real estate equities were mixed this week despite a continuation of the wave of dividend boosts and solid earnings reports as the broad-based Equity REIT ETFs declined by roughly 1%.
- REIT Rejuvenation? Five more equity REITs and three mortgage REITs boosted their dividends this week. We've now seen 26 REITs boost their dividends since the start of 2021 after 52 REITs raised in 2020.
- The red-hot U.S. housing market has shown few signs of cooling in the winter months. Homebuilder Sentiment, Building Permits, and Existing Home Sales each topped expectations as builders are selling homes as fast as they can be built.
For further details see:
Inflation Worries Pressure REITs