You can short stocks. You can even short ETFs. Have you ever heard of Short ETFs? The ProShares Short Dow 30 ETF (DOG) will return the inverse of the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) on daily basis. If the DJIA falls by 2%, DOG rises by 2% and if the DJIA rises by 2%, DOG will fall by 2%. Short ETF returns the inverse of the index it is linked to.
Short ETFs are also known as Inverse ETFs or Bear ETFs. During the past few years, the number of Short ETFs has risen dramatically. Short ETFs not only cover the major stock indices like the S&P 500 or the DJIA but also different sectors like the energy, utilities or technology. You will even find Inverse ETFs on currencies now.
You will even find leverage short ETFs. A leveraged short ETF gives the trader leverage without the use of margins. The ProShares UltraShort Dow 30 ETF (DXD) rises 2% when the DJIA falls by 1%.
Over the years, short ETFs have risen in popularity with the investors and hedge funds. Short ETFs give you an excellent opportunity to profit from the volatility in the market and the major indices.
If you have been trading currencies, then you should know that inverse currency ETFs are a great way to profit from the volatility in the underlying currencies. Short ETFs are a great product as they have created new opportunities for traders. A trader had to actually short sell stocks to take advantage of a market drop before the introduction of short ETFs.
In the past if the market was dropping, the trader had to go against the trend and buy or else move into cash or fixed income. Traders are not allowed to sell short stocks or ETFs in their retirement accounts. Short and leveraged ETFs provide traders with new opportunities.
Ever wanted to trade international stocks? Emerging markets give a higher rate of return as compared to the mature economies. China is one example that garners a lot of attention. The Shanghai Index in China rose 100% in 2007. In the first quarter of 2008, the Shanghai Index was down 35%. ETFs also provide you with the opportunity to take advantage of the global market swings.
China is a great emerging market. You can now profit from the volatility in the Chinese Stock market with the ProShares family of ETFs that introduced the Ultrashort FTSE/Xinhua China 25 ETF (FXP). Now if you want to trade the fall of Chinese stocks, you can trade FXP ETF. In the past, traders who wanted to benefit from the fall of Chinese stocks could only short Chinese stocks that were traded in US Stock Exchanges.
As a long term investor you can take advantage of short ETFs to hedge your portfolio position. Assume you have a portfolio of $100,000 composed of 75% stocks and 25% money market fixed income.
The forecast of the market for the next six months is not good. But you are reluctant to sell your stocks due to tax reasons. Suppose the market falls by 10%. Your stock portfolio falls by 7.5% assuming the same ratio between the market and your portfolio.
Mr. Ahmad Hassam is a Harvard University Graduate. Try This Cash Printing Forex Signal Service From Heaven! Learn Swing Trading! Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service