Closing...

Eric Mindich, a one-time Goldman Sachs star trader who jumped into the hedge fund industry, is throwing in the towel on his $7 billion firm.    Eton Park Capital Management was among the biggest fund startups -- is returning client money after 13 years.

“Recently, a combination of industry headwinds, a difficult market environment and, importantly, our own disappointing 2016 results have challenged our ability to continue to maintain the scale and scope we believe necessary to pursue our investment program consistent with our founding principles,” 

The decision follows the fall of another Goldman alumnus who ran a multibillion-dollar hedge fund. In September, Richard Perry called it quits, announcing that he was closing his main fund after almost three decades. Last year was the toughest for hedge fund closures since 2008. Liquidations totaled 1,057, according to Hedge Fund Research Inc.   Just a thought.