The demand for leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is on the rise amidst market volatility, according to Direxion CEO and ETF money manager Douglas Yones. Yones believes that current market conditions will continue to drive demand for these specialized ETFs.
Leveraged and inverse ETFs provide investors with the opportunity to take significant bets on the direction of the stock market. Investors can choose to go long or short on these funds, allowing them to capitalize on market movements.
Yones’ firm manages the Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3X Shares (SOXL), one of the largest leveraged/inverse ETFs in the market. The ETF holds top positions in companies like Broadcom, Nvidia, and Qualcomm. Despite experiencing fluctuations in performance, with an 84% increase over the past two years but a 36% decrease over the past year, Yones remains optimistic about the future of these ETFs.
With the increase in market-moving headlines and growing volatility, Yones believes that demand for leveraged and inverse ETFs will continue to rise throughout the year. Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, also sees a growing demand for single-stock leveraged ETFs. These ETFs offer exposure to individual stocks with the risk-on or risk-off benefits of the ETF wrapper, providing investors with liquidity and diversification.
Overall, the popularity of leveraged and inverse ETFs is expected to remain strong as investors seek ways to navigate the uncertain market conditions and capitalize on opportunities for growth or protection.