Real Estate Funds Break Out, Led by Direxion

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- U.S. real estate funds broke out this week, jumping 7.7% as housing starts, building permits and homebuilder confidence improved in the most recent reporting periods.

The average global or international real estate fund we track climbed 2.8% for the week ending Sept. 17. Put together, domestic and foreign funds grew 6% during the period.

Housing starts in August rose to an annual rate of 598,000 from 589,000 in July, building permits increased to 579,000 annually from July's 564,000 reading, and the National Association of Home Builders/Well Fargo index is showing homebuilder confidence for September, while still dour, rose to the highest level in 16 months.

The best-performing fund remains the Direxion Daily Real Estate Bull 3X Shares(DRN), up an Earth-shattering 25%. It's 300% leveraged to the daily performance of the MSCI US REIT Index.

Another real estate investment trust, or REIT, that focuses on retail hints at two reasons why this sector is on the mend.

First, Kimco Realty(KIM), up 17.7% for the five trading days under review, is selling $250 million in 10-year debt to buy locations from over-leveraged owners who are forced to sell. Second, a Kimco executive for the central U.S. region said Thursday that the ability to get tenants has "improved fairly dramatically since January" and that his company is "getting good-quality retailers" including Ross Stores(ROST) and TJX Cos.(TJX). Vornado Realty Trust(VNO), up 13%, is also maneuvering to secure distressed buying opportunities.

Best-Performing Real Estate Funds for the Week Fund (Ticker) Rating Fund Type 1 Week Total Return Direxion Daily Real Estate Bull 3x Shares (DRN) U ETF 24.75% ProShares Ultra Real Estate (URE) C ETF 16.58% Cohen & Steers Advantage Income Realty Fund Inc (RLF) E Closed-End 12.82% Cohen & Steers Premium Income Realty Fund Inc (RPF) E Closed-End 11.85% ProFunds Real Estate UltraSector ProFund (REPSX) E- Open-End 11.76% Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty Fund Inc (RQI) E Closed-End 11.39% Cohen & Steers REIT and Preferred Income Fund Inc (RNP) E+ Closed-End 10.84% Cohen & Steers REIT and Utility Income Fund Inc (RTU) D- Closed-End 9.92% DWS RREEF Real Estate Fund Inc (SRQ) E Closed-End 9.87% ING Clarion Real Estate Income Fund (IIA) E+ Closed-End 9.28% Source: Bloomberg & TheStreet.com Ratings

On the downside are the inverse funds shorting the sector with negative leverage up to 300%, resulting in declines of 7.6% in ProFunds Short Real Estate ProFund(SRPIX), 15% in ProShares UltraShort Real Estate(SRS) and 22% in Direxion Daily Real Estate Bear 3x Shares(DRV).