Real estate stocks jump into a long weekend — here’s what REIT traders watch next
New York, Jan 18, 2026, 13:56 EST — Market closed U.S. real estate stocks finished Friday on a strong note, with the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund rising roughly 1.2% to close at $42.21. This shift is significant since listed property firms usually respond to changes in interest-rate forecasts. As bond yields climb, investors usually push for bigger returns from dividend-focused real estate investment trusts, or REITs — these firms own income-generating properties and generally distribute most of their cash flow. Real estate ranked as one of the better-performing sectors in the S&P 500 this week, with investors keeping