Because of the mathematics behind the 3x leveraged ETF, FAS will decrease at faster rate than it can increase over the long run (over several weeks/months because of the interday gaps in price). Thus it doesn't track the true performance of the Russell 1000 Financial Index, but only the daily performance. With this in mind, does that mean FAS has a significant probability of being reduced to a penny stock at the next big stock market downturn? And if so, what does this mean for the future of the ETF?