Technology has been a hot-button issue during the U.S.-China trade war drama, which is causing a healthy dose of volatility within the sector. While this might unnerve the majority of investors not used to these stomach-churning market movements, it’s been a boon for traders looking for leveraged technology exchange-traded fund (ETF) plays.
Just when the capital markets were responding positively to the 25-basis point rate cut by the Federal Reserve, U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs sent the markets back down. Trump’s announcement that a 10 percent tariff would be applied to another $300 billion worth of Chinese goods, effective Sept. 1, sent the major indexes on a rollercoaster last week.
If that wasn’t enough, China responded with their own tariffs, causing the Dow Jones Industrial Average to experience losses of over 950 points on Monday before settling for a 767-point decline.
“Going forward, stabilization in the U.S./China trade war is now the most important key to broader market stabilization,” said Tom Essaye, founder of The Sevens Report, in a note. “If the escalation continues, that will cause a further pull-back, regardless of what the [Federal Reserve] is going to do. And, I say that because another 25 or 50 basis points of easing by the Fed won’t materially offset a protracted and escalating trade war.”
As the protracted trade war continues, new issues come to the forefront like currency manipulation.
ETF traders can use the volatility for opportunities in the Direxion Daily Technology Bull 3X ETF (TECL ) as well as the Direxion Daily Technology Bear 3X ETF (TECS ). So far, it’s the bulls who are charging through 2019 with gusto via a 101.68 year-to-date gain versus a 58.05 percent loss for TECS and the bears.
TECL seeks daily investment results, before fees and expenses, of 300% of the daily performance of the Technology Select Sector Index. The index includes domestic companies from the technology sector.
TECS seeks daily investment results, before fees and expenses, of 300% of the inverse (or opposite) of the daily performance of the Technology Select Sector Index. The index is provided by S&P Dow Jones Indices and includes domestic companies from the technology sector.
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