Fed Hikes, Turmoil Ensues
U.S. equity markets finished lower on a turbulent week after the Federal Reserve continued its historically-aggressive monetary tightening course, sparking renewed turmoil in the regional banking sector.
After closing at its highest levels since early February last week, the S&P 500 slipped 0.8% this week, using a late-week rebound to pare its steepest four-day declines since the SVB collapse.
Real estate equities and homebuilders were among the leaders for a third straight week, as a solid slate of earnings reports and a retreat in benchmark rates offset renewed credit concerns.
Surprisingly buoyant rent growth - particularly across the residential, industrial, hospitality, technology, and retail sectors - was the prevailing theme across a strong slate of REIT earnings reports.
A pair of REITs raised their dividend this week - Simon Property and Arbor Realty - while a pair lowered their payouts - City Office and Great Ajax. Blackstone plunged after limited redemptions in its flagship non-traded fund for a sixth-straight month.
U.S. equity markets finished lower on a turbulent week after the Federal Reserve continued its historically-aggressive monetary tightening course, sparking renewed turmoil in the regional banking sector. In a unanimous decision that received "very strong across the board,” the central bank highlighted resilience in labor markets as it shrugged off recent real-time data showing a significant moderation in inflation and recent banking industry turmoil that has resulted in three of the four largest bank collapses in history over the past month, a decision that sent several other lenders to the brink.
