Same with the current tweet-tweeting of Canary Capital, which seems to have had Bank of America in its cage.

Mr. Garland's name surfaced in a complaint filed with the attorney general's $40 million settlement with Canary Capital, a hedge fund.

By explanation, they point out that Mr. Stern's fund, Canary Capital, was never registered with the commission, unlike many hedge funds.

Bank of America officials seem to have been lured by the prospect of other business from the hedge fund, Canary Capital.

Security Trust, which federal regulators ordered shut in November, facilitated hundreds of illegal trades by Canary Capital, regulators said.

The company also acknowledged market timing arrangements with Canary Capital.

But last month, in his letter to clients, Mr. Strong said that Canary Capital had traded in and out of four stock funds managed by Strong.

A spokesman for Canary Capital declined to comment yesterday.

Canary Capital settled the complaint for US$40 million, while neither admitting nor denying guilt in the matter.

To date, they have identified four companies that they said engaged in improper trading with just one hedge fund, Canary Capital.