Our real estate editors' picks for the best stories of the week ending Dec. 16.

REIT Replay: In the fast lane

REITs declined and broader markets rose Thursday, Dec. 15, a day after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates and indicated further increases would occur at a more aggressive pace than anticipated.

Data Dispatch Asia-Pacific: Rise in property lending at Chinese banks to continue despite government curbs

"The regulatory moves may slow the pace of mortgage lending, but overall, it will continue to rise," an expert told S&P Global Market Intelligence, in a look at the exposure of China's four biggest banks to the property market.

Data Dispatch: Mortgage rate spike shutters refinance boom

Higher mortgage rates since the election of Donald Trump have hurt refinancing activity, but researchers expect home prices to be largely unaffected. An increase in the fed funds rate is unlikely to change the landscape.

The Short Report: November 2nd half sees decline in homebuilder short interest

D.R. Horton saw the biggest short-interest gain, while LGI Homes was the most shorted homebuilding stock during the second half of November.

The Property Ledger: Klövern sells 894M Swedish kronor portfolio; Citycon acquires Norwegian office

The Dec. 16 edition of the European property news recap also features a spate of property transactions in the U.K. and Ireland.

Data Dispatch: Ahead of expected US short-term rate hike, long-term bond yields up globally

Amid expectations for a short-term rate hike in the U.S., S&P Global Market Intelligence presents a snapshot of how yields on long-term sovereign bonds have fared in the month since the U.S. election.

Hires & Fires: Real Estate moves through Dec. 14, North America edition

This feature presents a weekly rundown of recent significant management and board changes and personnel moves in the North American real estate industry, including U.S. REITs and REOCs, homebuilders and gaming operators.

South African REITs turn focus to central, eastern Europe

Central and eastern Europe have attracted a sizable amount of South African capital earmarked for foreign investment, with South African REITs channeling almost €1 billion into the region this year alone.

US could see multiple rate hikes in 2017 as economy moves out of 'danger zone'

The U.S. central bank raised its key interest rate as widely expected, but projections that there will be multiple rate hikes in 2017 came as more of a surprise to some market observers.

New Europe Property to merge with Rockcastle

New Europe Property and Rockcastle completed a framework agreement Dec. 13 that proposes a merger to create the biggest listed real estate company in Central and Eastern Europe.