Extra Space Storage Inc, Digital Realty Trust Inc, Douglas Emmett, Inc. and others reached higher-than-usual trading volumes.

A quick recap of where the last trading session ended: Markets completed a mixed session yesterday, as Nasdaq closed at 12,000, a 1.07% change. After dropping 0.25%, S&P 500 closed at 4,090.38.

Why trading volume matters?

Trading volume is simply the total number of shares traded including both buy and sell orders. If a stock has appreciated on high volume, it is more likely to be a sustained move compared to an appreciation with low volume. Typically, high volume trading sessions are considered significant occurrences and closely watched by traders.

While trading was mostly sideways yesterday, several real_estate stocks were actively traded. Here's an update:

Extra Space Storage | 187% higher than rolling average

While Extra Space Storage Inc is on a 3 day uptrend Yesterday's session put the brakes on the ongoing uptrend — without a clear direction, Extra Space Storage closed at $160.02 while ranging between $158.31 and $161.32.

Yesterday's trading volume peaked at 3.26 million shares, thereby blitzing the daily average of 1.75 million by 187%.

Digital Realty Trust | 137% above rolling average

Digital Realty Trust outpaced its average daily trading volume (3.18 million) with 4.35 million shares traded yesterday.

Over the past 11 months, the carrier-neutral data center REIT has retreated 39.23% from a noteworthy peak of $152.67. Over the last 4 days, Digital Realty Trust has fallen 8.24%.

Digital Realty Trust discloses $1.22 per share dividend to be paid on Friday, March 31st

Douglas Emmett | 105% slightly greater than rolling average

Trading volume peaked at 4 million shares yesterday, thereby obliterating the daily average of 3.85 million by 105%.

The office space REIT is now trading 13.1% above the significant low ($10.84) it slumped to 14 days ago. Douglas Emmett has posted further gains as part of a 5 day trend that has already seen the stock gain 25 cents.

Douglas Emmett's board sets quarterly dividend of 19 cents per share to be paid on Friday, April 14th; annual dividend yield esimated at 6.08%.

— Average trading volume refers to a 21-day rolling average.