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.

Virtus ETF solutions has launched the Virtus Glovista Emerging Markets ETF (EMEM US) on the NYSE Arca. The fund uses a quantitative multi-factor strategy to provide exposure to ‘favoured’ emerging markets. William Smalley, executive managing director of Virtus, commented: “This new ETF offers investors exposure to the surge in global economic growth, leveraging the specialized knowledge and quantitative skills of Glovista Investments in a passive, tax-efficient vehicle.”

Lyxor has launched the Lyxor Gender Equality ETF (ELLE FP), Europe’s first ETF to focus on companies leading the field in gender equality. Commenting on the launch, Clarisse Djabbari, deputy head of Lyxor ETFs & indexing, said: “This ETF marks an important step in our progress towards a complete range of environmental, social and governance based investment products.” The ETF is linked to the Equileap Global Gender Equality Index, an index of 150 high-ranking stocks based on gender equality.

Frankfurt-based index provider Solactive is celebrating ten years since its founding in 2007. The firm has grown to produce more than 4,500 indices for over 350 clients and there are now over 260 ETFs tracking indices calculated by Solactive. Steffan Scheuble, CEO of Solactive, commented, “This has been a wonderful ten-year journey full of excitements and challenges.”

Frankfurt-based index provider Solactive has launched the Solactive Emerging Markets Consumer Technology Index, providing exposure to the growing role of internet technology and e-commerce in emerging markets. The index will underlie a new ETF launched by KraneShares on the NYSE Arca.

Solactive has launched the Solactive Future Cars Index Canadian Dollar Hedged which is the underlying for a new ETF from Evolve Funds listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The Evolve Automobile Innovation Index ETF (TSX: CARS) gives investors thematic exposure to the future of the car industry – autonomous, connected, electric and shared.

Goldman Sachs has introduced the Goldman Sachs Equal Weight US Large Cap Equity ETF (Bats: GSEW) which provides access to the 500 largest US-listed equities while mitigating some of the biases inherent in traditional market cap-weighted indices.

Solactive has launched the Solactive US Large Cap Equal Weight Index, a new index that tracks an equal weight exposure to the US large-cap equity segment. The index will include the 500 largest US-domiciled equities and will underlie the forthcoming Goldman Sachs Equal Weight US Large Cap Equity ETF (Bats: GSEW). Steffen Scheuble, CEO of Solactive, said: “We’re excited to once again serve as an index provider to Goldman Sachs through the creation of such a timely and unique index.”

Frankfurt-based index provider Solactive has launched the Solactive Intuitive Beta Index family by rolling out three smart beta indices constructed around themes including workforce efficiency, value investing and corporate longevity. Each of the indices target exposure to its specific theme within the US large cap equity universe.

Janus Henderson has announced plans to close and liquidate the Health and Fitness ETF (Nasdaq: FITS) as a result of a market review of the firm’s product line-up.