Nine teams, made up of four University students reading for the final year of a degree in banking and finance participated in the portfolio game forming part of the BOV Investment Education Project.
The winners from last year’s academic year were announced during a small celebration held at the University of Malta, during which the participants from the current academic year were briefed and invited to form teams for the next portfolio game.
This game is an innovative concept developed a few years ago as a collaborative project between the Department of Banking and Finance at the University and Bank of Valletta. Spurned by the bank’s community programme under the education pillar, this project gives students a unique opportunity to get a first-hand experience of the world of trading in which they will be engrossed in a few more months.
Addressing the students, Joseph Falzon, dean of the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy and head of the Department of Banking and Finance from the University said: “The game provides participants with a simulated trading platform based on real instruments traded on the Exchange’s equities market. Every team has a virtual sum of €1,000,000 available to invest in listed stocks, shares or bonds worldwide. They need to devise an investment strategy and ultimately liquidate their portfolio. Teams are judged on their ability to abide by this strategy, the rationale for selecting the stocks, and on profits or losses made.”
Speaking about the input of the bank, he said it made its virtual portfolio platform available to the teams for this purpose. Thus, participants have a unique opportunity to test their investment strategies and learn how to keep track of a portfolio.
The BOV Virtual Portfolio, a feature of the bank’s internet banking service, allows users to track and monitor their investments and calculate profits and losses on their capital according to market fluctuations.
Romeo Cutajar, chief officer, Financial Markets & Investments, Bank of Valletta, presented the certificates and cash awards to the winners. The winning team was made up of Christian Cristina, Karl Cremona, Jean Paul Camilleri and Colin Vella. The teams that placed first, second and third received cash rewards by the bank.
“Since its inception, this collaborative project has been an exciting journey for us,” said Mr Cutajar.
“This project ties in well with the bank’s belief in the value of a holistic education, a principle that governs its education pillar, which sees BOV supporting initiatives like the National Literacy Strategy as well as being the education partner of the University for the BOV Degree Plus programme.”
During the same presentation, Gabriella Gafa was presented with the First Class Student Award 2012-2013.