The future directions of the hedge fund industry, global markets, the world economy and the volcanic ash cloud hovering over Europe were among the many pressing issues on delegates' minds at this year's EuroHedge Summit, as the hedge fund industry's major players gathered in Paris for two days in late April for the industry's key annual get-together.

Despite the widespread travel chaos in the immediate run-up to the event caused by Iceland's latest eruption, some 750 of the world's leading hedge fund managers, investors and service providers successfully journeyed to the French capital for the seventh annual EuroHedge Summit - which was held at its traditional venue at Le Palais de la Bourse on April 21-22.

A small number of the scheduled panellists were prevented from attending at the last minute due to the travel restrictions - particularly those stuck in Asia or the US. But the vast majority still managed...