The Direxion Daily Semiconductor Bull 3x Shares ETF (SOXL) experienced a steep decline of -7.72% on September 16, 2024, as investor concerns grew that the AI investment boom may be turning into a bust.

The semiconductor sector, which includes major companies like NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, and others, had seen a significant rally driven by the hype around artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to boost demand for chips and data centers. However, recent developments have raised doubts about the immediate impact of AI on productivity and efficiency, leading to a reassessment of the sector's valuations.

Analysts have pointed out that while AI holds promise in the long term, its real-world applications and revenue contributions have been relatively minor so far. This realization, coupled with concerns about a potential economic downturn and rising interest rates, has fueled a sell-off in semiconductor stocks and leveraged ETFs like SOXL.

Furthermore, the structure of SOXL, which provides 3x daily leveraged exposure to the semiconductor sector, amplifies both gains and losses. The daily rebalancing feature and high holding costs make it challenging for the ETF to recover from significant losses, as witnessed in the 2022 bust when SOXL lost over 90% of its value from its peak.