Brian Hunter, the trader whose $6.5bn (€4.9bn) losses in natural gas futures triggered the collapse of Amaranth Advisors last year, has won the backing of investors for his own fund, according to friends and former colleagues.

A friend of 33-year-old-Hunter said: "He has raised money. He is trading in the energy markets, similar to what he was doing before. Someone as young as Brian is not ready to retire. He has learnt from his experience and will be better."