Quote from winstontj:
its really 3x... (minus fees & expenses in the small print).
I did not know that SEC max is 4x leverage, is that for an individual investor? I'd like to see the specific rule because many prop firms offer 4x margin but then those traders could go out and buy a 3x ETF.
I don't use margin in my account because I don't day trade for a living but I'm pretty sure E*Trade would let me use my margin to purchase 3x etfs, perhaps though, only up to 4x... not sure.
Also - if you can short these ETFs, and then (with paying interest) use the proceeds to buy something else, you can essentially be 9x (or higher) if you short the short and buy the long, or vice versa. Perhaps this is only a hedge fund tactic though as I have not seen any individual actually do this.