Minneapolis Star Tribune – Like most market watchers, last year’s participants in the Star Tribune Investor Roundtable failed to predict that 2008 would be a year of stomach-churning stock market declines, failed financial institutions, multibillion-dollar bailouts and credit markets as frozen as a Minnesota lake in January.

"I think everybody in the room knew there was more leverage, more speculation, more betting on the economy, but it amazes me that it got to this level," said Phil Dow, director of equity strategy at RBC Wealth Management.

But what the group of Twin Cities investment professionals did foresee a year ago was a period of unprecedented stock market volatility. The VIX index, a gauge of market swings, reached a record high this fall.

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West Palm Beach (HedgeCo.net) - Canada’s hedge fund industry gathered in November to raise $150,000 in support of Hedge Funds Care Canada (HFCC), which is dedicated exclusively to the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect.

"The Canadian hedge fund industry is particularly devoted to philanthropic causes, and this cause resonates, even more so in these difficult economic times," said Corey Goldman, President and Director of Hedge Funds Care Canada. "Hard times bring stress, and stress causes pain but there is no reason that any child should be exposed to physical or psychological trauma, maltreatment or neglect."

HFCC is part of a larger alliance of hedge fund industry professionals that comprise New York-based Hedge Funds Care, including prime brokers, attorneys, accountants,
information providers, investors and managers. They have raised approximately $31
million through annual benefits in Toronto, New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Denver, London and the Cayman Islands.

Alex Akesson

Editor for HedgeCo.Net
Email: alex@hedgeco.net

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