To hedge against the market falling, I have small positions of Ultrashort Real Estate Proshares (SRS), Ultrashort Financial Proshares (SKF) and Ultrashort Oil & Gas Proshares (DUG). These are inverse market index ETFs, meaning they rise when the market falls and vice versa.
| Inverse ETF [purchase date] | Shares | Purchase Price | Price on 12/26/08 |
| Ultrashort Oil & Gas Proshares (DUG). [11/21/08] | 100 | $38.21 | $27.72 |
| Ultrashort Financial Proshares (SKF) [12/11/08] | 20 | $118.99 | $116.82 |
| Ultrashort Real Estate Proshares (SRS) [12/11/08] | 20 | $81.64 | $55.50 |
| Ultrashort Real Estate Proshares (SRS) [12/17/08] | 20 | $62.62 | $55.50 |
I purchased these ETF because I believed they would provide some protection if the market should fall. However, upon further investigation, I learned that these ETFs can fall even if the market index declines over time, due to the ETFs being base on the daily return of the index, which Proshares customer service confirmed when I asked them about my observation. The Motley Fool has a great explanation, with an example, of how these 2X inverse ETFs may not protect against a long term decline in the index.
Based on my new learnings, I will not buy any additional inverse ETFs and look to unwind these positions, hopefully at a profit, but at a loss if needed.
Lesson learned: Don't buy derivative investments when I don't fully understand how they work, as in the case of 2X inverse ETFs.
Disclosure: At the time of publication, I own shares of the Ultrashort Real Estate Proshares (SRS) , Ultrashort Financial Proshares (SKF), and Ultrashort Oil & Gas Proshares (DUG).
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This is not financial or investment advice. Please consult a professional advisor.
Copyright © 2008 Achievement Catalyst, LLC
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