The first quarter of 2026 ended with a downpour of volatility as the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) rose 69%. Nonetheless, Goldman Sachs (GS) reported first-quarter 2026 earnings that outpaced Wall Street expectations though a thick fog of uncertainty still lingers in Q2.
Top Performing Leveraged/Inverse ETFs Last Week These were last week's top performing leveraged and inverse ETFs. Note that because of leverage, these kinds of funds can move quickly.
| ARCA Exchange | US Country |
The Bank of Montreal has introduced an innovative financial instrument designed for investors looking for an opportunity to leverage their investment in the banking sector. These are senior unsecured medium-term notes, which provide a return tied to a three-fold leveraged participation in the performance of a specifically curated index. This index is thoughtfully constructed to mirror the performance of the ten largest U.S. banks by market capitalization, offering a unique investment avenue into the banking sector. Investors should note that the leveraged returns are compounded daily, and the investment incurs specific fees such as a Daily Investor Fee, Daily Financing Charge, and potentially a Redemption Fee Amount. This product represents a distinctive means for investors to potentially amplify their investment outcomes in alignment with the banking sector's market movements.
These financial instruments are a noteworthy offering by the Bank of Montreal, structured to provide investors with leveraged exposure to the banking sector's market performance without securing the notes against specific assets. This offers a blend of potentially higher returns coupled with a higher risk profile compared to secured notes.
Investors gain exposure to three times the daily performance of a carefully selected index of the ten largest U.S. banks by market capitalization. This leveraged participation aims to maximize returns by tripling the daily performance of the index, minus applicable fees, thus offering a significant opportunity for gain (or loss) relative to the market movements of leading U.S. banks.
The underlying index for these notes is equal-dollar weighted, designed to offer a balanced representation of the top U.S. banks, irrespective of their individual market capitalizations. This ensures that each bank contributes equally to the index's overall performance, providing a diversified and fair reflection of the banking sector's strength.
Returns on these notes are compounded daily based on the triple-leveraged performance of the index, after accounting for the Daily Investor Fee and the Daily Financing Charge. This compounding effect can significantly amplify gains or losses, depending on the index's daily performance trends.
Investors in these notes are subject to a Daily Investor Fee and a Daily Financing Charge, calculated and deducted from the investment returns to cover the costs associated with managing and financing the leveraged exposure. Additionally, a Redemption Fee Amount may apply if the notes are redeemed before maturity, affecting the overall return on investment.