Idaho State Journal – Several prominent hedge fund managers told Congress Thursday they support a new central exchange to open the murky world of some complex investments partly blamed for the global financial crisis, but stopped short of endorsing stricter regulation of hedge funds themselves.

The managers testified at a House hearing examining the role of hedge funds in the crisis, and the risks that critics say they pose to the financial system. Hedge funds, vast pools of capital holding an estimated $2.5 trillion in assets, operate mostly outside of government supervision.

Billionaire investor and liberal activist George Soros, who runs a hedge fund, said new regulations were needed to gauge the underlying financial strength of banks. But he warned against "going overboard" with regulations that could do more damage than good to the financial system.

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