Top 10 Leveraged ETFs That Soared Last Week
Here’s a quick look at the top-performing leveraged ETFs from last week, explained in simple terms and optimized for easy understanding.
**1. ETHD – ProShares UltraShort Ether ETF**
ETHD gained over 18% in just one week. This ETF moves in the opposite direction of Ethereum’s price—so when Ethereum drops, ETHD goes up. Last week, Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Solana took a hit due to investor caution ahead of new data from the Federal Reserve. Ether alone dropped 10%, which helped ETHD surge.
**2. WTIU – MicroSectors Energy 3X Leveraged ETNs**
WTIU shot up thanks to rising oil prices. It gives investors 3x the daily performance of US energy and oil stocks. Tensions in the Middle East, ongoing issues between Russia and Ukraine, and shrinking US oil supplies pushed oil prices higher, boosting this ETF.
**3. NRGU – MicroSectors U.S. Big Oil Index 3X Leveraged ETN**
NRGU also benefited from climbing oil prices. It tracks large US oil and gas companies and delivers triple the daily performance of its index. With falling US crude inventories and lower interest rates, this ETF gained more than 17% last week.
**4. OILU – MicroSectors Oil & Gas Exploration & Production 3X Leveraged ETN**
OILU gives 3x exposure to US oil and gas exploration and production stocks. Rising oil prices helped this ETF grow over 15% last week.
**5. AGQ – ProShares Ultra Silver**
AGQ, which aims to double the daily performance of silver prices, jumped about 14.5%. Silver prices spiked due to a weaker US dollar, Federal Reserve rate cuts, and global tensions that drove demand for safe-haven assets like silver.
**6. GUSH – Direxion Daily S&P Oil & Gas Exp. & Prod. Bull 2X Shares**
GUSH offers 2x daily exposure to oil and gas exploration and production companies. It gained over 12% last week as energy prices continued to rise due to global supply concerns and geopolitical unrest.
**7. SBIT – ProShares UltraShort Bitcoin ETF**
SBIT climbed nearly 11%. This ETF profits when Bitcoin drops, moving in the opposite direction by 2x. Bitcoin took a big hit last week due to a stronger US dollar, uncertainty around regulations, and over $1.5 billion in long positions being wiped out—shrinking the total crypto market by around $160 billion.
**8. BABX – GraniteShares 2x Long BABA Daily ETF**
BABX saw a 10% jump after Alibaba announced more investment into artificial intelligence (AI). This ETF gives double the daily movement of Alibaba stock. The market is rewarding tech companies investing in AI, pushing Alibaba’s stock—and this ETF—higher.
**9. GDXU – MicroSectors Gold Miners 3X Leveraged ETN**
GDXU rose about 10%. It provides triple the performance of an index made up of major gold mining ETFs (GDX and GDXJ). Investors rushed to gold as interest rates fell, the dollar weakened, and geopolitical uncertainty increased—making gold miners more attractive.
**10. ERX – Direxion Daily Energy Bull 2X Shares**
ERX rounds out the list with more than 9% gains. It gives double exposure to daily movements of US energy stocks, which surged on rising oil prices and global tensions.
These leveraged ETFs saw strong weekly performance due to shifts in commodity prices, interest rates, and global events. Whether you’re tracking crypto moves, betting on energy stocks, or watching precious metals, these ETFs show where traders are focusing right now.
Stocks Edge Up Despite Shutdown and Weak Jobs Report
**Wall Street Sees Small Gains Despite Government Shutdown and Weak Jobs Report**
U.S. stock markets managed to stay positive on Wednesday, even as a federal government shutdown officially began and new job data showed unexpected weakness. Investors stayed optimistic, hoping for strong corporate earnings and possible interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve.
By midday in New York, all three major indexes—the S&P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones—were slightly up, each gaining just a few tenths of a percent.
**Jobs Report Misses Expectations**
The ADP private payroll report for September was disappointing. It showed a drop of 32,000 private-sector jobs, the largest monthly decrease since March 2023. This came in well below Wall Street forecasts and raised hopes that the Federal Reserve might respond with more rate cuts in the near future.
Because of the shutdown, several official economic reports have been delayed, giving this ADP data more influence than usual. Traders are using it to get a clearer picture of how the job market is doing.
**Health Care Stocks Lead the Market**
Health care stocks had a strong day, boosted by policy news from the Trump administration. A new proposal called the “Most Favored Nation” rule aims to lower U.S. prescription drug prices by tying them to what other countries pay.
Pfizer made headlines by agreeing to lower Medicaid drug prices in exchange for tariff exemptions. This agreement helped spark a rally in health care stocks.
The Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLV) jumped 2% on Wednesday after climbing 2.4% on Tuesday, marking its best two-day streak since November 2020.
Top-performing health care stocks included:
– Thermo Fisher Scientific (TMO): +7.5%
– Eli Lilly (LLY): +6.9%
– Merck (MRK): +6.1%
– Amgen (AMGN): +6.1%
– Pfizer (PFE): +5.8%
– Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY): +5.7%
**Nike Beats Expectations**
Nike also delivered good news. The company posted strong first-quarter earnings that beat analyst forecasts, pushing its stock up more than 5%. This was Nike’s best single-day gain since June.
**Commodities and Crypto Rebound**
Gold prices briefly hit $3,900 per ounce before slipping back to $3,850 as selling pressure emerged. Silver moved up 1.5% to $47.48 per ounce, getting close to its all-time high from April 2011.
Cryptocurrencies made a comeback as well:
– Bitcoin (BTC) rose 3.3% to $117,800
– Ethereum (ETH) gained 4.5%
– Solana (SOL) surged 5%
**ETF and Index Performance**
Here’s how major U.S. ETFs performed:
– Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO): +0.1% at $613.13
– SPDR Dow Jones ETF (DIA): Flat at $463.76
– Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ): +0.2% at $601.66
– iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM): Unchanged at $241.80
Sector highlights:
– Health Care SPDR Fund (XLV): +2%
– Communication Services SPDR Fund (XLC): -1.3%
**Biggest Stock Gainers**
Among S&P 500 companies, the strongest performers were mostly in the health care sector, while other sectors like materials and communication services lagged behind.
Investors are now closely watching how long the shutdown will last and whether weaker job numbers will push the Federal Reserve to make a move on interest rates later this month.
**Key Takeaways for Investors:**
– Stock market remains stable despite economic concerns
– Health care stocks are driving gains due to new drug pricing rules
– Job market weakness boosts hopes for rate cuts
– Commodities and crypto show signs of strength
– Eyes remain on Fed policy and government shutdown developments
Stay tuned for more updates as market conditions evolve.
Bitget Launches UEX: Unified Trading for All Assets
Bitget has introduced a new platform called Universal Exchange (UEX) that combines centralized exchanges (CEX), decentralized exchanges (DEX), and traditional finance (TradFi) into one simple and powerful trading platform. This all-in-one solution lets users trade a wide variety of assets—cryptocurrencies, stocks, ETFs, forex, gold, real estate, and other real-world assets (RWAs)—from a single account.
UEX is designed to solve the biggest problems in trading today. Crypto platforms are either too limited or too complicated. CEXs are easy to use but don’t offer many assets. DEXs have more tokens but can be confusing and lack advanced features. Most users end up switching between platforms, wasting time and money. UEX eliminates this hassle by giving users everything in one place.
The platform also uses advanced tools and AI to make trading faster and easier. With GetAgent AI, users can get smart suggestions and automate strategies using simple commands—cutting down trade setup time from 25 minutes to just 3 minutes. This makes it easier for beginners to get started while still offering powerful tools for experienced traders.
UEX doesn’t just stop at simplicity—it also focuses on security. It uses hybrid custody, risk filtering, and a protection fund worth over $700 million to keep your assets safe. This approach mixes user control with strong institutional protections.
One of the key benefits of UEX is that it removes geographic barriers. People around the world can now invest in U.S. stocks, ETFs like the S&P 500, and other traditional assets that were previously out of reach. Tokenization and blockchain settlement make this possible, giving everyone 24/7 access to global markets.
For traders, this unified system means no more delays or transfer fees when switching between platforms. Advanced trade routing saves users up to $3,000 on large transactions by cutting out unnecessary steps. This means you can move faster and keep more of your profits.
New investors will love the clean interface and built-in AI guidance that helps them learn while they trade. Pro traders can run complex strategies across different asset types without juggling multiple accounts. And international users now have access to financial products that were once off-limits.
Experts believe that unified trading platforms like UEX are the future of finance. As more people demand simpler, safer, and more flexible ways to invest, platforms that combine all markets and tools in one place will become the norm. Bitget expects a major shift by 2027, with more trading volume moving to these kinds of integrated platforms.
Bitget launched in 2018 and has grown into a global leader with over 120 million users across 150+ countries. The platform offers real-time crypto prices including Bitcoin and Ethereum, smart trading tools, and a unique copy trading feature for beginners.
Bitget also offers the Bitget Wallet—a non-custodial wallet that supports 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. Users can trade across chains, stake crypto, make payments, and access over 20,000 decentralized apps (DApps) all from one place.
Bitget is also expanding crypto adoption through high-profile partnerships. It’s the Official Crypto Partner of LALIGA in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. It supports blockchain education through a UNICEF partnership aimed at educating 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget is also the exclusive crypto exchange partner of MotoGP™, one of the world’s top motorsports championships.
With UEX, Bitget is leading the charge into a new era of unified finance—where trading is smarter, safer, and open to everyone.
North Korean Hackers Steal $21M From SBI Crypto
A major Japanese cryptocurrency company, SBI Crypto, has suffered a $21 million cyberattack. Blockchain experts believe North Korean hackers, likely from the well-known Lazarus Group, are behind the theft. This group has been linked to several high-profile crypto hacks over the past few years.
The breach was first spotted on September 24, 2025, by blockchain investigator ZachXBT. He noticed unusual transactions from SBI Crypto’s wallets. These wallets, holding various cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Bitcoin Cash, were emptied in a systematic way.
The stolen funds were quickly moved through five instant crypto exchanges and then sent to Tornado Cash—a crypto mixer often used to hide the origin of stolen coins. Tornado Cash was previously sanctioned by the U.S. government in 2022 for helping launder money, including funds tied to North Korea. Although legal restrictions were lifted earlier this year, concerns remain that hackers will continue to exploit the platform.
SBI Crypto is a mining pool and is fully owned by SBI Group, one of Japan’s biggest financial companies. Despite the large sum involved, SBI Crypto has not made any public statement about the hack so far.
The techniques used in this attack match patterns seen in other operations linked to North Korea’s cyber units. On-chain data shows that wallet addresses like “0x40d7” and “bc1qx0a2k” were drained and funneled through laundering tools.
This incident is part of a larger trend. In 2024 alone, North Korean hackers stole over $1.3 billion across 47 separate incidents. By the first half of 2025, that number jumped to $2.2 billion. These hackers are getting more skilled and their attacks are becoming more frequent.
Beyond hacking wallets and exchanges, North Korea has also been caught running fake job scams. In August 2025, ZachXBT exposed a North Korean operation where five individuals posed as blockchain developers using fake identities. They used forged documents, purchased Social Security numbers, and created fake profiles on job platforms like Upwork and LinkedIn.
Evidence found included fake meeting schedules, Telegram chats, and spreadsheets showing purchases of VPNs, AI tools, and other digital services. One wallet tied to this group was linked to a $680,000 hack of a crypto project called Favrr in June 2025.
These tactics have raised serious concerns in the crypto community. Some companies discovered too late that supposed team members were actually North Korean agents using fake profiles. While firms like Kraken have successfully blocked some of these applicants, others have lost large amounts of money through these fake hiring schemes and phishing attacks disguised as job offers.
North Korea is also known for advanced malware attacks. In June 2025, cybersecurity firm Cisco Talos revealed the “PylangGhost” campaign. This malware targeted crypto developers using fake coding tests and interview links. The malicious software infected over 80 browser extensions, including popular crypto wallets like MetaMask and Phantom.
U.S. authorities have started fighting back. In June, they seized $7.7 million in crypto linked to North Korean IT worker networks. They also shut down fake companies like Blocknovas LLC in South Carolina and Softglide LLC in New York, which were used as fronts for these cyber operations.
In September 2025, former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao warned that North Korean hackers are sneaking into crypto firms through fake job applications, bribing insiders, and hiding malware in interview files.
As of now, the stolen $21 million remains missing, and SBI Crypto has yet to comment publicly on the incident. The attack adds to growing fears over North Korea’s continued targeting of the cryptocurrency world with increasingly advanced tactics.
Smart Investing: Options, AI, and Quality Assets
In today’s unpredictable market, it’s more important than ever to own high-quality, undervalued assets. Gold and Bitcoin still have a role in long-term portfolios, but investors should focus on cryptocurrencies with real use cases and steer clear of speculative coins.
One key strategy is being flexible with investment choices. Rather than sticking to small or mid-cap stocks, go where the money is. This means sometimes investing in large-cap names like Facebook (now Meta), Apple, Google, and Tesla when they were undervalued, which led to significant gains. While small-cap stocks can be volatile and many are unprofitable, there are opportunities if you carefully pick companies with strong catalysts and manage your positions wisely.
For example, using options strategies like selling covered calls and cash-secured puts can help generate consistent income, especially in sideways or choppy markets. This “options wheel” approach allows you to make money whether the stock moves up or stays flat. It’s especially effective in tax-deferred accounts.
A good example of this is AST SpaceMobile, which saw strong returns after buying in early and selling options on the way up and down. Even during price drops, selling puts at key support levels brought in solid premium income, often without needing to buy the stock.
Investing is not always about hitting home runs. Sometimes grinding out base hits through smart strategies makes the biggest difference over time. It’s crucial not to panic during downturns or sell out of frustration. Many investors make the mistake of taking tax losses right before stocks rebound. Often, institutional investors are buying when retail investors are selling near the bottom.
When dealing with small and mid-cap stocks, it’s essential to remember that these markets are inefficient compared to large caps. That creates opportunities for those who do their homework. If you’ve picked strong companies and still believe in their long-term potential, holding through rough patches can pay off.
In terms of managing risk, now might be a good time to reassess overvalued large-cap stocks, especially with concerns around government shutdowns or broader market corrections. Large caps have hit very high valuations, which could be risky in the near term.
Options can be powerful tools if used correctly. Selling covered calls on stocks you already own can bring in extra income. Selling cash-secured puts lets you potentially buy stocks at lower prices while collecting premiums upfront. This works particularly well when market volatility pushes option premiums higher.
This strategy requires a solid foundation of good stock selection. It’s like setting a limit order to buy a stock—but getting paid while you wait. If the stock doesn’t drop to your target price, you keep the premium. If it does drop and you’re assigned the shares, you’re buying at a discount.
Technical analysis tools like the weekly Relative Strength Index (RSI) can help identify good entry points for selling puts. When RSI is low (around 30-40), it often signals a buying opportunity or a chance to sell puts for high premiums.
By combining smart stock picking with options strategies, it’s possible to earn strong returns with less risk than just owning stocks outright. Holding a balanced mix of ETFs and individual stocks, while keeping cash ready to deploy via puts during dips, creates a well-rounded approach.
Looking at the broader economy, Quantitative Easing (QE)—or money printing—has changed the game. Historically, governments print money when they overspend or under-tax. The U.S., with over $37 trillion in debt, is no exception. QE helps keep markets liquid but also inflates asset prices.
This benefits asset owners and hurts those without investments. To protect your wealth, owning assets that grow faster than inflation—like quality stocks—is crucial.
In this kind of environment, avoid buying average assets just because they offer a high dividend yield. Instead, focus on undervalued companies with strong growth potential over the next 3–5 years.
Private equity firms often provide clues about where smart money is going. Recently, many have shifted from energy investments into AI-related infrastructure like data centers. Some are also buying back into natural gas and beaten-down clean energy sectors—signals worth watching closely.
Artificial Intelligence is perhaps the most impactful trend since the internet boom. Just like the dotcom era built out digital infrastructure that later enabled giants like Amazon and Google to thrive, today’s AI build-out is laying the foundation for massive long-term gains.
AI isn’t just about flashy tech firms—it’s also transforming industries like healthcare and manufacturing by improving efficiency and lowering costs. Companies that can maintain pricing power while using AI to boost margins will likely emerge as winners.
For example, Pfizer could benefit from using AI in drug development thanks to its vast data resources and budget for computing power. Mid-cap companies that embrace AI and eventually grow into S&P 500 members could offer great upside potential with less risk than speculative small caps.
On gold and crypto: gold remains a solid store of value and has kept pace with inflation over time. While it may not deliver explosive returns from here, it still offers stability in uncertain times.
Bitcoin plays a similar role as digital gold. While it started as a tool for moving money across borders (often for questionable reasons), it’s matured into an asset class watched by major institutions. However, it still faces regulatory risks if governments feel threatened by its rise.
Among cryptocurrencies, focus on those with real-world utility—such as Ethereum and Solana—which power smart contracts and decentralized apps. These platforms are being adopted by governments and big organizations for things like digital property titles and secure transactions.
Avoid speculative tokens without clear use cases or business models—they’re high-risk and often manipulated by pump-and-dump schemes.
In summary:
– Own quality assets that hold value over time
– Be flexible: invest in all caps based on where the best opportunities are
– Use options strategies like covered calls and cash-secured puts for consistent income
– Don’t panic sell during rough patches—especially in small/mid-caps
– Follow where smart money is going: AI infrastructure, undervalued large caps
– View AI as a major force that will impact everything from healthcare to finance
– Own functional crypto; avoid speculative coins
– Protect your wealth from inflation by investing wisely
Being patient and following smart strategies can help you thrive—even during uncertain times.