On the Properties of Leveraged ETFs

Abstract

In this paper, we examine if, for a successful long-term investment of leveraged ETFs, it is necessary to adjust the level of leverage according to the fluctuations of the financial markets. For this purpose, we illustrate in particular the behavior of the Leverages ETF based on the optimal leverage introduced by Giese (2009). This latter one, which is based on the growth rate expectation, behaves as a function of the prevailing market environment. More precisely, it implies that the investor should use high leverage in low volatility markets and low leverage in high volatility markets. We study also how the degree of leverage depends on the main factor of market environment, namely the volatility of the market in force.