Equity REIT Liquidity Improving, Fitch Says

The liquidity of U.S. equity real estate investment trusts is likely to strengthen in the coming months, according to Fitch Ratings. In a new report, Fitch cites recent unsecured bond issuances from several equity REITs as evidence that access to capital via public debt and equity markets has increased in recent months. Steven Marks, managing director and head of Fitch's U.S. REIT Group, pointed to the recent unsecured bond issuances and added that another advantage for equity REITs is that "large REITs remain well positioned to weather an environment of reduced capital access given limited unsecured debt maturity exposure and limited refinance risk." The new report, "Liquidity of U.S. Equity REITs Strengthening," also comments on the liquidity profiles of U.S. equity REITs rated by Fitch. The rating agency can be found online at http://www.fitchratings.com.