RBC Hedge 250 Index® Returned 0.02% in September 2006

Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Author: RBC Capital Markets

 RBC Capital Markets today reported that for the month of September 2006 the RBC Hedge 250 Index^® had a net return of 0.02 per cent. This brings the year-to-date return of the Index to 5.69 per cent. These returns are estimated and will be finalized by the middle of next month. The return for August 2006 has been finalized at 0.77 per cent.

The RBC Hedge 250 Index is an investable benchmark of the performance of the hedge fund industry. The Index operates in accordance with a unique construction methodology. Comprised of more than 250 actual hedge funds, the RBC Hedge 250 Index is positioned as the industry's most diversified and representative investable index. The Universe from which the Index is based currently consists of 5,569 hedge funds (excludes funds of hedge funds) with aggregate assets under management of $1.102 trillion.

Since its inception on July 1, 2005 through the end of August 2006, the RBC Hedge 250 Index has had an annualized net return of 10.16 per cent. In comparison, over the same period, other investable indices have averaged 6.79 per cent while non-investable indices have averaged 11.85 per cent, according to information reported by the sponsors of those indices.

For more information about the RBC Hedge 250 Index, including historical performance information, please visit www.rbchedge250.com.

	Index Level	Sep-06	Aug-06	YTD	ITD
RBC Hedge 250	111.97	0.02%	0.77%	5.69%	11.97%
Relative Value
Convertible Arbitrage		1.06%	0.99%	12.57%	17.59%
Equity Market Neutral		-0.05%	-0.03%	1.86%	4.11%
Fixed Income Arbitrage		0.29%	-0.11%	4.62%	7.48%
Tactical
Equity Long/Short		0.12%	1.41%	7.12%	16.21%
Macro		-1.06%	-1.17%	-1.17%	6.26%
Managed Futures		-0.43%	0.78%	4.60%	11.10%
Event Driven
Credit		0.35%	0.89%	7.09%	13.00%
Mergers & Special Situations		0.18%	0.78%	7.08%	12.03%
Multi-Strategy
Multi-Strategy		0.47%	1.22%	9.66%	16.65%
Table contains estimated returns, except for the August returns, which are final. Inception date is July 1, 2005. Index Level at inception was 100.00.

For the past 10 years, RBC's Alternative Asset Group has created structured products referencing portfolios of hedge funds. It holds investments in over 1,000 hedge funds. AAG is the oldest dedicated group in the industry and has developed a significant infrastructure and extensive experience in the areas of fund due diligence, risk analysis, transaction execution, and portfolio administration and valuation.

RBC Capital Markets is the corporate and investment banking arm of RBC Financial Group and is active globally in fixed income, foreign exchange, infrastructure finance, structured products, metals and mining, and energy. Its North American equity underwriting, sales, trading and research business dominates the Canadian market and supports a significant and growing franchise in the US middle market. The firm's international fixed income, structured products and treasury businesses are managed from London, which is the centre of a 24-hour trading platform with major hubs in Toronto, New York and Sydney.
Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future returns. Performance data for the RBC Hedge 250 Index^® (the "Index") is net of underlying manager fees and an Index Fee as set forth in the Index administration rules (the "Index Rules"), and gross of any product fees. The Index composition is based on the Index Rules which are subject to change at any time and from time to time subject to Index Committee approval. Index funds may be added or removed, and allocations among funds, sectors and strategies may be changed, based upon the criteria set forth in the Index Rules. Implementation of the Index Rules in certain circumstances may involve the exercise of discretion. Inclusion of a hedge fund, sector or strategy in the Index does not represent an endorsement by RBC as to the investment merits of the fund, sector or strategy. Statements as to diversification and representative nature reflect RBC Capital Markets' opinion based on a comparison of the RBC Hedge 250 Index with other major investable hedge fund indices across a combination of factors, which include the number of hedge funds included in the index, the methodology used to weight strategies and funds, and the performance of the index versus the non-investable hedge fund indices. This material is not intended as investment advice, or as an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security or other financial instrument. For further information on composition, fees and administration of the Index, see the Index Rules.

Certain statements in this Press Release constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. RBC assumes no obligation to update these forward looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumption or changes in other factors affecting such forward looking statements.