It's no secret that stock market performance over recent years has been disappointing, to say the least -- or abysmal, to be more realistic. And when the markets go down, mutual funds go down with them. So what are Canadian investors to do?

Hedge funds are alternative investments that are designed to provide investors with strong returns during both bull and bear markets. More widely available than ever before, the popularity of hedge funds has been growing rapidly in Canada, thanks to regulatory changes and the continued poor performance of more traditional investment vehicles. But with risks and pitfalls of their own, they are often misunderstood by the average investor.

Written by two of the industry's top experts and commentators, this is the first book of its kind -- a complete guide to the hedge fund industry in Canada -- now completely revised:

• Includes complete coverage on: what hedge funds are and how to use them to your advantage; myths and facts about hedge funds; the difference between hedge funds and mutual funds; how to assess hedge funds and measure your risk; how to buy a hedge fund; how to apply different hedge fund styles in your portfolio; and much more.
• New information in this edition includes: Expanded and updated hedge fund profiles and ratings; up-to-date information on the hedge fund market in Canada; new types of funds and other innovations in the field; additional investment strategies.
• Features completely updated profiles and ratings of hedge funds currently available in Canada -- expanded to cover 100 funds. Each profile includes a description of the fund, information on the fund's manager, performance numbers, terms and conditions, and risk data.

"A valuable and complete update to the first edition. Miklos Nagy and Peter Beck have done it again: explaining complex financial products to everyone wanting to know more about hedge funds. After Portus, this book is a must for any advisor or investor." -- Tom Hockin, President and CEO of The Investment Funds Institute of Canada

"Hedge Funds for Canadians is a thorough and highly readable look at a subject many Canadian investors probably haven't felt comfortable with. Peter Beck and Miklos Nagy have managed to take the mystery out of this relatively sophisticated investment strategy." -- James Walker, Editor, Investment Executive

"A useful and thorough primer on a subject of critical importance to Canadian investors." -- Michael den Tandt, Columnist with The Globe & Mail's Report on Business

Peter Beck is a well-known financial expert and President of Swift Trade Securities, Canada's leading direct-access trading firm.
A true entrepreneur, Peter started his colourful career as a chef in Hungary. He immigrated to Canada in 1979 where he started a number of successful businesses, including the country's first long distance company in 1988, competing directly with Bell Canada. When he sold the company in 1993, there were offices coast to coast making it one of the leaders in the industry.
In 1997 Peter read an article about a US Day Trading firm and decided to bring the concept to Canada. In just four years, Swift Trade Securities grew from one office to 10 across Canada, used by over 400 full-time traders. Swift Trade Securities remains Canada's premier Direct Access Electronic Trading Centre, and today operates 38 offices around the globe with a further 25 slated to open in 2005. The company was named #2 on Profit Magazine's 100 Fastest Growing Canadian Companies list for a remarkable 5-year growth of almost 9000%.
Mr. Beck has been featured in media across the country, including The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, CTV News, ROB TV and Canadian Business. He regularly appears on television to offer commentary on the US markets. He is also co-author of the best selling book Canadian Income Funds.

Miklos Nagy is President and CEO of Quadrexx Asset Management Inc., a hedge fund company. He is also Chairman and co-founder of Canadian Hedge Watch Inc., a Toronto based publishing, research and educational firm focusing on the hedge fund industry. Mr. Nagy has 18 years of financial industry experience in Canada in senior positions advising high and medium net-worth clients and conducting financial research.
Mr. Nagy studied Math and Computer Science in Hungary and graduated with a B.Sc.(Hons.) degree from the University of Toronto in Economics and Statistics. He holds the CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) and CFP (Certified Financial Planner) professional designations.
A leading authority on alternative investments and hedge funds in Canada, Mr. Nagy has been featured extensively on national television and in newspapers speaking about hedge funds. He has been a major contributor to the new investment designation course CHAIP (Chartered Alternative Investment Planner). He has also been a speaker at financial seminars and conferences for numerous organizations around the world.
He is a member of the CFA Institute, the Toronto CFA Society and a founding member of the Hungarian Society of Investment Professionals, Budapest.