Relative Weight ETFs To Play Macro Trends

• (0:30) - Direxion Relative Weight ETFs: What Are They?
• (2:20) - What Does The Recent Jobs Report Reflect For U.S. Market?
• (8:00) - Cyclical vs. Defensive Stocks
• (12:15) - What To Expect From Developed and Emerging Markets
• (15:30) - Value vs. Growth Stocks
• (19:30) - Small Cap vs. Large Cap In 2019
• (21:20) - How Can Relative Weight ETFs Fit Into an Investors Portfolio?
• Podcast@Zacks.com

In this episode of ETF Spotlight, I talk with Sylvia Jablonski, Managing Director at Direxion Investments. Direxion is one of the largest issuers of leveraged and inverse ETFs.

Earlier this year, Direxion launched 10 Relative Weight ETFs that allow investors to capture both sides of an expressed view. To start off, Sylvia explains why they decided to launch these ETFs.

The Direxion FTSE Russell US Over International ETF RWUI provides 150% long exposure to US stocks and 50% short exposure to international stocks. The US economy remains on solid footing. Was the February jobs report just a blip or the start of a new trend?

At the same time, there are a lot of concerns about global growth, particularly about major economies in Europe. Last week, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced additional stimulus measures for the faltering economy.

The region’s economy, which is heavily dependent on exports, has been hurt by trade wars. Germany barely avoided recession and Italy is in recession. Brexit has further muddied the outlook. Can the US continue to outperform the rest of the world?

If you are bullish on international stocks—developed as well as emerging—you should look at the Direxion FTSE Russell International Over US ETF RWIU.

Cyclical sectors—that are tied to the health of the economy--have done quite well this year. Industrials and technology are the best performing sectors year to date. The Direxion MSCI Cyclicals Over Defensives ETF RWCD provides 150% long exposure to cyclical sectors and 50% short exposure to defensive sectors.

The Direxion MSCI Defensives Over Cyclicals ETF RWDC is suitable for investors looking to efficiently express a defensives over cyclicals investment view.

The Direxion MSCI Developed Over Emerging Markets ETF RWDE and Emerging Over Developed Markets ETF (BS:RWED) have significant exposure to Japan and China. January the best month for the MSCI Emerging Markets Index since March 2016. Chinese stocks have surged thanks mainly to trade deal optimism. We discuss the outlook for developed and emerging markets.

Growth stocks had led the bull rally for the past several years, but there was a lot of interest in value stocks when markets were choppy late last year. Will value finally get its groove back?

Take a look at the Direxion Russell 1000 Growth Over Value ETF RWGV and Direxion Russell 1000 Value Over Growth ETF RWVG.

The Direxion Russell Large Over Small Cap ETF RWLS and the Direxion Russell Small Over Large Cap ETF RWSL help investors express their views on relative performance of large caps versus small caps.

We also discuss how investors should use these types of strategies in a portfolio. Sylvia points out that as all these ETFs are 1.5x long and 0.5x short, on net they provide unleveraged exposure to the stock market. Tune into the podcast to learn more.

Please visit direxioninvestments.com if you want to learn more about these ETFs. Make sure to be on the lookout for the next edition of the ETF Spotlight! If you have any comments or questions, please email podcast@zacks.com .

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