Banking Crisis 2.0? The "Contagion" ETF That Gains 3% for Every 1% Banks Drop

The Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares was a star during the global financial crisis. The ETF still has its limited uses, but don't expect 2008 levels of performance.

The Motley Fool • Feb 22, 2026

Which Sector Topped the Leaderboard for January Returns?

The first month of 2026 is already in the books. Which sector walked away with the top spot when it came to total returns?

ETF Trends • Feb 3, 2026

Bet Against Big Banks in 2026 With FAZ

Big bank stocks have been on a tear, creating an opportunity for contrarians. Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (NYSEARCA:FAZ) offers a way to bet against the financial sector with triple leverage.

24/7 Wall Street • Jan 9, 2026

Direxion's FAS, FAZ ETFs Rise To The Forefront Amid Monetary Policy Shift

While the market's attention has largely concentrated on major headlines such as the blistering technology ecosystem, the Federal Reserve's shifting stance on monetary policy deserves careful consideration. Last month, the central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points, thus delivering a widely expected move that ended a nine-month policy pause.

Benzinga • Oct 23, 2025

Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares ETF: For Trading, Not Holding

Understand the construction of financial instruments to ensure they align with your investment goals and avoid frustrating those goals by using the wrong instruments. Leveraged ETFs are designed for short-term trading, not long-term holding, due to daily resets and time value decay in derivatives. FAZ, a 3x leveraged bear ETF for the financial sector, should be used for daily trading or speculation, not as a buy-and-hold investment.

Seeking Alpha • Apr 27, 2025

FAZ: A Tactical Risk-Enhancement Tool For A Financials Sector Bear Market

Leveraged inverse ETFs like FAZ can be used to gain from market declines, especially in the financial sector, but are not long-term investments. These ETFs should be held for no longer than a single trading day due to price decay and daily rebalancing risks. Timing trades using momentum indicators like RSI can help capture gains, but caution is advised to avoid overuse and potential losses.

Seeking Alpha • Apr 26, 2025

Q2 Earnings Season Looms Large in Hopes for Broader Stocks Rally

Editor's note: Any and all references to time frames longer than one trading day are for purposes of market context only, and not recommendations of any holding time frame. Daily rebalancing ETFs are not meant to be held unmonitored for long periods.

ETF Trends • Aug 1, 2024

Top Performing Leveraged/Inverse ETFs: 04/14/2024

These were last week's top performing leveraged and inverse ETFs. Note that because of leverage, these kinds of funds can move quickly.

ETF Trends • Apr 16, 2024

Moody's Downgrade 10 U.S. Banks: ETF Strategies to Play

Moody's rating downgrade has shed light on the intricate challenges facing U.S. banks, both large and small.

Zacks Investment Research • Aug 9, 2023

Fast And Furious Leveraged ETFs (FAS And FAZ)

The article discusses the 2 Direxion Daily Financial Bull & Bear 3x ETFs (FAS and FAZ) and how they provide 3x daily exposure to the S&P Financial Select Sector Index. The ETFs are not designed for long-term investment due to high volatility and potential for significant losses, as evidenced by their underperformance in the long term. Despite their high risk, the ETFs maintain a good 3x daily leveraged and inverse exposure to the underlying index, making them suitable for tactical or speculative opportunities.

Seeking Alpha • Jul 5, 2023