ProShares has launched the ProShares S&P 500 Bond ETF (SPXB US) on NYSE Arca, providing exposure to investment-grade corporate bonds issued by members of the blue-chip S&P 500 equity index. Michael Sapir, co-founder and CEO of ProShare Advisors, the advisor to ProShares, commented, “The S&P 500 served as the basis for the first ETF over 25 years ago. Today’s launch of a bond ETF tied to the S&P 500 is another important moment in the evolution of ETFs.”

Cboe Vest, the asset management arm of exchange operator Cboe Global Markets, has launched the Cboe Vest S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Target Income ETF (KNG US), combining a well-recognised dividend growth strategy with a dynamic covered-call options overlay.

ETFs and ETPs gathered $12.4 billion globally in net inflows during February, the lowest monthly amount since May 2016 when net inflows were $10.5bn, according to ETFGI. The relatively subdued flows are a far cry from January – a bumper month for the industry – when ETFs experienced their highest monthly net inflows on record, pulling in $100.6bn.

ProShares has reduced the degree of exposure underlying its two VIX-related ETFs following rapid, large swings in the products’ values during the equity market sell-off in early February.

This week’s spike in US equity market volatility led to the temporary suspension of trading in three US-listed inverse VIX exchange-traded products and the decision from Credit Suisse to close its VelocityShares Daily Inverse VIX Short-Term ETN (XIV).

S&P 500 companies issued $775 billion in bonds during 2017, the sixth consecutive year of record US corporate bond issuance, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. Jason Giordano, director of fixed income at S&P DJI, said the rise in issuance was reflective of companies continuing to take advantage of the accommodative environment created by low interest rates and strong investor demand.

Solactive has launched the Solactive-ProShares Bricks and Mortar Retail Store Index, which tracks US retail companies that rely principally on in-store sales. The recently-launched ProShares Decline of the Retail Store ETF (EMTY US) provides inverse exposure to the index.

ProShares has launched the ProShares Decline of the Retail Store ETF (EMTY) on NYSE Arca, the first ETF specifically designed to benefit from the decline of US-listed bricks-and-mortar retail firms. Investors looking for an alternative play on this theme – simultaneously capturing the increasing popularity of online retailing – may wish to consider the ProShares Long Online/Short Stores ETF (CLIX US) which also launched today.

Assets invested in inverse and leveraged ETFs listed globally increased 14.1% in the first nine months of 2017 to reach a new record high of $77.1 billion, according to London-based ETF industry consultant ETFGI.

Nebraska-based brokerage firm TD Ameritrade has announced a major increase in the scope of its commission-free ETF trading platform, tripling the number of ETFs available from 100 to 296. The expansion means TD Ameritrade now offers the largest commission-free ETF trading program in the industry.