The Morningstar 1000 Hedge Fund Index gained only 0.1 per cent in December, but ended the year up 19.5 per cent, missing 2003’s 20.3 per cent rise by a small margin. »

Petra Joucken has joined Fund Channel as head of management company relations. »

Robeco-Sage, a fund of hedge fund manager based in New York, has hired Michael Welch as director of business development. »

European Fund Administration has signed a partnership agreement with Italy’s Asset Management Services, a company specialised in fund administration services. »

Hedge funds have recouped 77 per cent of their 2008 losses, with 28 per cent of funds now fully recovered from their maximum drawdowns, according to a report by Credit Suisse Tremont. »

Advisory group Allium Capital has strengthened its relationship management function with the appointment of Lindsay Coates. »

A team of investment management specialists has launched Galileo Capital Management, an investment management and advisory firm with operations in London and Hong Kong. »

Alpstar Capital, a European asset manager and investment adviser, has appointed Bertrand Pinel as partner and chief executive. »

UMB Fund Services, a division of UMB Financial, and its alternative investment servicing division JD Clark have promoted two executives. »

Nordic asset management firm Alfred Berg has appointed Dr. Larry Pohlman and Amitabh Dugar to its quantitative strategies team as chief investment officer and portfolio manager respectively.  »