Hedge funds have taken some stick in the current economic climate, but when hedging pays off it can pay big-time, with Chesapeake Energy recently recording a $2.85 billion gain from hedges on its natural gas and oil sales.   Chesapeake returned third quarter earnings of $3.25 billion at the end of October, almost ten times the $346 million earned in the same quarter last year.

Breaking new ground┬áThe Ann & Robert H. Lurie ChildrenÔÇÖs Hospital of Chicago, the new state-of-the-art childrenÔÇÖs hospital soon to replace ChildrenÔÇÖs Memorial Hospital, will set new standards in pediatric healthcare, Ruari McCallion reports. The feet that stood on the shovel that broke the ground for the new Ann & Robert H. Lurie ChildrenÔÇÖs Hospital of Chicago on April 21, 2008, may have been just regular-sized but they represented a huge step forward in child health in the whole of North America.

Coordinated construction┬áDowntown Calgary is in the midst of a changing skyline. The construction of the Jamieson Place complex will provide the city with cutting-edge design and technologyÔÇöand one of its first LEED Silver buildings, Andrew Pelis learns.

The right direction┬áKeith Regan details how an aggressive acquisition strategy has made it possible for Eveready Directional Boring to be a full-service provider to oil fields and other industries. When Lyle Jeffries first launched his directional boring business in the Canadian province of Alberta, it was with a single piece of equipment capable mainly of helping contractors install utilities without digging open trenches.

Patient privacy┬áKeith Regan learns how Halifax Medical CenterÔÇÖs building project modernizes healthcare delivery to the fast-growing Florida population without losing touch with the past. Halifax Medical Center of Daytona Beach is the Florida coastal cityÔÇÖs primary hospital, featuring the areaÔÇÖs only Level II trauma center and the only pediatrics emergency department.

A well oiled team┬áFred Baker tells Gay Sutton about the changes taking place in the Canadian oil and gas exploration sector and how Milestone Exploration is reshaping its strategy for new circumstances. YouÔÇÖd think that with oil prices rising so dramatically over the last couple of years and governments focusing on security of supply, being in the oil and gas exploration business would be highly attractive. And you would be right.

Taking the heat┬áAubrey Eveleigh, COO of MetalCORP, talks to Gay Sutton about the strategic value of finding a rare unique metal, rhenium, in Ontario. Not many of us are likely to experience a genuine Eureka momentÔÇöthat instant when you realize without a doubt that you have discovered something outstanding and unique.

Electronics retailer Circuit City announced it is pulling the plug on about 20 percent of its US stores, in an attempt to conserve cash and return the company to profitability. ┬á The Richmond, Virginia based retailer said the closures will reduce the companyÔÇÖs domestic work force 17 percent by shutting 155 of its more than 700 stores in 55 markets, including Phoenix and Atlanta, by the end of the year.

Improvement┬ápioneer┬áAndrew Pelis learns how lean manufacturing, six sigma and an exceptional supply chain keep McKesson Automation at the forefront of pharmaceutical distribution. Based in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania, McKesson Automation, Inc. began as Automated Healthcare, a company founded in 1987 by Sean McDonald, one of healthcareÔÇÖs leading technology innovators.

US credit card lender American Express has unveiled plans to reduce its workforce by 10 percent in order to save $1.8 billion by the end of 2009.  ┬á Around 7000 jobs will be cut, mostly at management level or in areas which do not deal directly with customers. Amex also announced a recruitment freeze and the suspension of next year's management pay rises. Spending on travel, consulting and entertainment will also be cut.