Traders seeking short-term opportunities in a changing economy are turning to leveraged and inverse ETFs as tools to capitalize on market shifts, particularly following the recent election. At the most recent virtual Benzinga boot camp hosted by Direxion, analysts spotlighted strategies and trends driving interest in these financial instruments while emphasizing their role in tactical trading.

During the session, Gianni Di Poce, an analyst at The Mercator LLC, and Eliott Wellenbach, a senior vice president and institutional ETF strategist at Direxion, discussed the performance of leveraged ETFs in semiconductors, Chinese markets, and single-stock opportunities.

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Why Traders Are Watching Semiconductors

The semiconductor industry remains a focal point for traders as artificial intelligence and quantum computing developments continue to shape the market. Di Poce pointed to the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index as a case study, noting its upward trend.

"When looking at trends, higher highs and higher lows indicate where the bigger directional moves are likely to occur," Di Poce said. He emphasized the value of Direxion's triple-leveraged SOXL ETF for bullish opportunities while also recognizing potential on the bearish side with SOXS, depending on short-term market movements.

Wellenbach added context from fund flows, explaining that SOXL has been among the top ETFs for inflows this year, reflecting investor confidence in semiconductor performance. "SOXL is our second-largest fund by assets under management," he said, acknowledging recent weekly outflows as traders locked in profits.

China's Rebound Draws Interest

China's markets have also garnered attention after periods of volatility and downtrends. Di Poce highlighted the FTSE China 50 Index, explaining how stimulus measures and broader monetary shifts have contributed to a potential trend reversal.

"You had lower lows and lower highs for months, but that began to change earlier this year," Di Poce noted, pointing to recent higher lows as a signal of recovery. Direxion's YINN, a bullish China ETF, has seen notable inflows, aligning with the market's upward trajectory.

Wellenbach echoed this sentiment, adding that YINN became one of Direxion's top-performing funds following the Federal Reserve's rate adjustments. "The September easing helped shift global monetary flows, and traders recognized that opportunity," he said.

Single-Stock ETFs: A Growing Tool

Another focus of the session was single-stock ETFs. Di Poce discussed opportunities in high-profile names like Apple, Alphabet, and Tesla, noting their recent technical patterns.

"Apple broke through resistance and hit new highs, while Tesla confirmed its bull trend after months of declines," Di Poce said. Leveraged funds like AAPU for Apple and TSLU for Tesla offer traders tools to take short-term positions on individual stocks.

Wellenbach highlighted the increasing popularity of these ETFs, saying, "We've seen assets in single-stock funds grow from $1 billion to $6 billion this year as traders look for ways to express short-term convictions or hedge concentrated positions."

Education And Strategy Remain Crucial

Both analysts emphasized the importance of understanding how leveraged ETFs function throughout the event. Wellenbach stressed their role as short-term tools and warned traders against a buy-and-hold approach due to the funds' daily rebalancing.

"These are powerful instruments, but you need to know what you own and how they work," Wellenbach said. Di Poce echoed this caution, reminding traders to manage risk. "Leverage can amplify gains, but it can also amplify losses. You can't afford to stay wrong for long."

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