AGNC INV. CORP.CUM.PFD E

Rates down, REITs up? Two years of persistent rate-driven pressure on residential and commercial real estate markets appears to finally be abating as the worst of pandemic-era inflationary pressures subside. Since the "pivot' in early July, the REIT Index has outpaced the S&P 500 by 10 percentage points. Despite this rebound, REITs still have 35 percentage points of "catch-up" to do. REITs aren't quite as "cheap" now as they were at the end of June, but that's not such a bad thing: premium equity valuations are the "fuel" for REITs' external growth. » Mehr auf seekingalpha.com

U.S. equity markets climbed to record-highs while benchmark interest rates rebounded from eight-month lows on a relatively quiet end-of-summer week as investors parsed a 'Goldilocks' slate of economic data. PCE data showed modest inflationary pressures in July - keeping the Fed on course for multiple rate cuts by year-end - while consumer spending and consumer confidence data topped estimates. Posting gains for a fourth week following a three-week skid in late July, the S&P 500 gained another 0.3% this week. The Dow Jones finished the week at all-time record-highs. » Mehr auf seekingalpha.com

U.S. equity markets rallied while benchmark interest rates remained near the lows of the year after a critical slate of inflation data showed further encouraging signs of cooling price pressures. The Consumer Price Index posted a downside surprise for a fourth straight month, underscored by a "2-Handle" on Headline CPI, which follows a period of historically high inflation from 2021 to 2023. Sparking a renewed "Goldilocks" narrative, Retail Sales data was notably stronger than expected in July - posting its strongest monthly increase in 18 months - while Jobless Claims also moderated. » Mehr auf seekingalpha.com