Boston College Fund Hooks Up With Interactive Brokers

However, the club's most recent buys performed worse than the fund's average:

Oct. 24, 2007: The club bought the Chinese telecommunications giant China Mobile CHL at $97.10 per share. Atha recalls why the stock was purchased: "It [China Mobile] was pitched as a growth company with international exposure that would further diversify our portfolio."

The stock closed on Monday at $77.11, a 20% loss.

China Watch: A NICE Growth Play

Dec. 12, 2007: The club bought shares of building materials manufacturer USG Corporation USG, at $36.96 per share. "We decided to purchase shares of USG", says Atha, "because the members felt that the stock's price had declined to a point where it was very cheap as a long-term play."

USG closed Monday at $33.25, a loss of more than 10%.

The club's biggest losing holdings were Waters Corporation WAT, down 28%, and Apple AAPL, off 27%.

So does the club plan to sell any of these current losers? For now, no. "In particular, we feel that Apple will rebound from its recent decline and regain its previous momentum," says Atha.

In spite of the market turmoil, the portfolio did produce some impressive winners over the winter break:

KB Homes KBH: Up 25%

Fomento Economico Mexico FMX: Up 10.5%

Hugoton Realty Trust HGT: Up 9.4%