What is a leveraged exchange-traded fund (ETF)?

• A. An ETF that uses margin and derivatives to amplify movement of the underlying assets, often by 2x or 3x.
• B. An ETF that only holds cash equivalents.
• C. An ETF that cannot use derivatives.
• D. An ETF that tracks bonds only.

Answer: (A)

Leveraged ETFs are designed to magnify the daily moves of an underlying index by using leverage, including debt and derivatives such as swaps or futures, aiming for, for example, 2x or 3x the daily movement. This means if the index goes up 1% in a day, the fund might rise about 2% (or 3%), and vice versa for declines. The key here is the amplification applies to daily returns, and the effect compounds over time, which can lead to surprising results if held longer than a few days due to volatility and rebalancing. This makes them useful for short-term trading or hedging a view on the next day’s move, but not ideal for long-term holds.

The other descriptions don’t fit: holding only cash equivalents would describe a cash or money-market ETF, not a leveraged one; not using derivatives would prevent amplification; and tracking bonds only describes a bond ETF, not a leveraged equity-focused product.