Two of the ICMA Centres top performing MSc students were awarded with the Eurekahedge prize. First place was awarded to Vladimir Zdorovenin, MSc International Securities and Investment Banking, with Duncan Green, studying on the MSc Investment Management programme as the runner-up.

The Eurekahedge prize is awarded annually for the best research paper on hedge funds, and comes in recognition of the winning students efforts and hard work that went into completing their research projects. Vladimirs' project was sponsored by the Nomura Research Institute whilst Duncan's research project explored the potential benefit to an investment manager to include a hedge fund in his or hers optimal portfolio whilst also investigating the challenging problem of the return distributions. Both research papers were supervised by Dr. Jacques Pezier.

Vladimir was delighted with winning ?I find professional acclaim very important for everything I do. I would also like to thank Eurekahedge for providing the data that has been crucial for this research. I appreciate the guidance of Dr. Jacques Pezier, as well as the feedback, assistnace and support provided by ICMA Centre staff and students. The supportive atmosphere of ICMA Centre made my research project a truly satisfying experience and am glad to admit that the course has met and exceeded my rather high expectations.'

Duncan commented: ?I am thrilled to have achieved runner up. I would like to thank Eurekahedge for providing me with data so I could carry out this research and also the ICMA Centre for teaching me valuable financial market knowledge, without which the research could not have been accomplished'

Upon graduating, Vladimir will complete an exchange programme with Technischen Universitat Munchen and Augsburg, and intends to return to the ICMA Centre to work on a PhD under the supervison of Prof. Carol Alexander and Dr. Jaques Pezier.