REITs outperformed in first quarter 2008

The REITs' performance in the first quarter is particularly impressive, considering their returns this decade. In the past 10 years (ended March), the S&P REIT composite index posted a total return of 4%, vs. the S&P 500's 3.5%. Then, in 2007, as news about a real estate bubble and subprime mortgage problems filled the headlines, REITs fell about 16%.

But in the first quarter of 2008, the group posted a 0.8% total return, at a time when the S&P 500 index fell 9.4%.













source: REITs Show Strength
BusinessWeek
http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/apr2008/pi20080424_616049.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_investing