Entering Tuesday, the Market Vectors Russia ETF (NYSEArca: RSX) sported a six-month loss of 35.2%, making it difficult to be bullish on Russian equities.
However, what is now a three-day rally for oil futures is compelling some traders to revisit RSX and the adventurous are even mulling positions in the Direxion Daily Russia Bull 3x Shares (NYSE: RUSL), the triple-leveraged equivalent to RSX. RSX is the oldest, largest and most heavily traded Russia listed in the U.S.
Over the past five days, the United States Brent Oil Fund (NYSEArca: BNO) is up more than 14%, which is important because Russia, the largest non-OPEC producer in the world, prices its oil in Brent terms, the global benchmark. RSX and RUSL have responded with arguably tepid five-day gains of 1.6% and 4.3%, respectively. [Short Covering Fuels Oil ETF Rally]
Still, traders with temerity might want to give RUSL a look because there are signs of capitulation among RSX bears.
“The RSX, country ETF for Russia, seen below on the daily timeframe, shows a consolidation pattern which has morphed into a sideway channel. Bears have thus far failed to crack it lower, perhaps blinded by love for a crash in crude and failing to recognize the temporary bottoming signs in place for energy and energy stocks. Thus, RUSL is on my radar as a levered long play, especially if RSX holds over $15.30 today,” according to Chessnwine of Market Chess.
