AMARANTH Advisors, the $US9.2 billion hedge fund that lost $US6.5 billion ($8.7 billion) in less than a month, is preparing to shut down. Nicholas Maounis, its founder, sent a letter to investors last night informing them that the fund was suspending all redemptions for September 30 and October 31, "to enable the Amaranth funds to generate liquidity for investors in an orderly fashion, with the goal of maximising the proceeds of asset dispositions". Investors have been meeting Amaranth executives throughout last week, many demanding the return of their money.