If I'm short an inverse equity ETF...

He is short an inverse etf, so he is basically long, no?
You should re-read the post

He’s not actually taking this trade - but wondering what would happen if he was short an inverse ETF and the asset it follows went to 0
 
You should re-read the post

He’s not actually taking this trade - but wondering what would happen if he was short an inverse ETF and the asset it follows went to 0

Again, if something loses X% of its value you will lose X% of your capital, unless you are using leverage.
 
Again, if something loses X% of its value you will lose X% of your capital, unless you are using leverage.


Hmmmmm, so playing it through:

I short SH.

SH is an inverse SP500 Fund.

Assume that is a PERFECT inverse fund in that it does exactly what the SP500 does, only the inverse.

So, SP500 goes from 4165 to 0. (4165 - 0) / 4165 = 100%. SP500 is thus down 100%.

So that means SH just doubles in value, and I'm down an amount equal to my original investment?

Shit, that is not so bad. I keep reading everyone talking about potentially unlimited losses shorting, but I guess that is only shorting the longs, not shorting the shorts lol.
 
Why short an inverse ETF rather than just going long the correlated ETF?

Of course. If you're short an issue, the most you can make is 100% (and that's only if the issue goes to zero... what does that?) But if you're long an inverse leveraged fund, you might make 3-5x or more.
 
Of course. If you're short an issue, the most you can make is 100% (and that's only if the issue goes to zero... what does that?) But if you're long an inverse leveraged fund, you might make 3-5x or more.
%%
Exactly;
not that SPY is likely to go anywhere near zero. One of the Bright Daytrading Co execs noted a higher unemployment is maybe bullish......................................................
 
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