It's hard to describe what has happened on the ASX boards today as anything other than a full-on meltdown. At present, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) has retreated by a sobering 0.7% after falling as much as 1.6% earlier this morning. That makes what is currently going on in the ASX real estate investment trust (REIT) space all the stranger.
Whilst most ASX 200 blue chips are nursing heavy losses today, REITs are, mostly, on fire. This space is currently one of the best-performing sectors on the ASX, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) up a healthy 1.46% at the time of writing.
What's more, we've seen several real estate investment trusts even clock fresh new 52-week highs today.
Scentre Group (ASX: SCG) units touched a new high of $3.34 this afternoon, and are currently up 1.22% at $3.3 each.
Stockland Corporation Ltd (ASX: SGP) units reached a new high of $4.83 around the same time. Ditto for Centuria Industrial REIT (ASX: CIP), which vaulted up to $3.56 a unit in the past hour.
We've seen similar moves from HMC Capital Ltd (ASX: HMC), Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC), and Dexus Industria REIT (ASX: DXI).
So how can we explain this apparent stock market paradox?
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How are ASX REITs defying the meltdown to hit new highs?
Well, it's fairly difficult to pinpoint what's going on here. There are no obvious catalysts that can explain why investors seem to be flocking out of other ASX 200 shares and into REITs this Friday. Real estate investment trusts are often some of the ASX's most cyclical shares, so it's a real head-scratcher.
There are a couple of things we can point to though.
Firstly, we got some news today out of Bunnings REIT BWP Trust (ASX: BWP).
In January, we covered BWP's bid for fellow Bunnings landlord Newmark Property REIT (ASX: NPR). This bid, consisting of 0.4 BWP units offered for every Newmark unit, saw the Newmark unit price rocket 40% at the time.
Yesterday, BWP announced that it intends to shift its offer to an "unconditional" one as of 21 March, and extended its offer period to 12 April.
Given the rapturous reception of its original offer, it's possible that this news is having an impact on the REIT scene today.
Another factor we can point to is the recent broker love that many REITs have been on the receiving end of.
Earlier this week, my Fool colleague James covered the buy ratings that two different ASX brokers gave to Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF) and Stockland.
Then last week, my colleague Bronwyn also covered similar buy ratings from different brokers again, this time covering Ingenia Communities Group (ASX: INA), Arena REIT No 1 (ASX: ARF) and Charter Hall Group.
Perhaps these recent and glowing reviews of these ASX REITs have convinced investors of their safe haven potential this Friday.
Whatever the reason for today's market defiance from the ASX REIT space, no doubt its investors will be delighted.
