Direxion Launches Six Leveraged Long/Short ETFs
March 12, 2010

SAN DIEGO (ETFguide.com) – Direxion Shares has just launched six leveraged long/short ETFs linked to emerging markets and semiconductor stocks. The funds use leverage, meaning they’re intended to deliver magnified performance.

The Direxion Daily BRIC Bull 2x Shares (NYSEArca: BRIL) aims to deliver 200% daily leverage to BRIC securities. BRIC is an acronym used to identify Brazil, Russia, India and China.

In 2009, ETFs linked to BRIC stocks like the iShares MSCI BRIC Index Fund (NYSEArca: BKF) climbed around 90% in value.

The opposite trade of BRIL is the Direxion Daily BRIC Bear 2x Shares (NYSEArca: BRIS). BRIS attempts to achieve 200% daily inverse performance to BRIC stocks.

Both BRIL and BRIS use the BNY Mellon BRIC Select ADR Index as a benchmark.

The Direxion Daily India Bull 2x Shares (NYSEArca: INDL) targets stocks from India aiming for 200% daily leverage. The
Direxion Daily India Bear 2x Shares (NYSEArca: INDZ) aims for just the opposite – 200% daily inverse performance to equities from India. 

Both INDL and INDZ are linked to the Indus India Index.

The Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares (NYSEArca: SOXL) focuses on semiconductor stocks by attempting to achieve triple daily performance while the Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bear 3x Shares (NYSEArca: SOXS) aims for triple inverse daily performance. SOXL and SOXS are linked to the PHLX Semicondutor Sector Index.

Call and put options on the funds are expected in coming weeks.

All of the Direxion Shares charge annual expenses of 0.95%.

Other ETF Offerings
State Street Global Advisors debuted the SPDR S&P Russia ETF (NYSEArca: RBL). The fund is benchmarked to the S&P Russia Capped BMI Index and holds around 72 stocks. Top industry sectors represented inside RBL are energy (49.20%), materials (17.88%) and financial stocks (11.71%). RBL’s annual expense ratio is 0.59%.

Also, Claymore Securities added three ETFs to its lineup. The Wilshire 5000 Total Market ETF (NYSE Arca: WFVK), the Wilshire 4500 Completion ETF (NYSE Arca: WXSP) and the Wilshire US REIT ETF (NYSE Arca: WREI) each follow broad market U.S. equity indexes. WFVK charges annual expenses of 0.12%, WXSP is at 0.18% and WREI charges 0.32%.