JSE Investment Challenge is on for 50th time

In a bid to raise financial literacy and get more youth to start investing, the JSE has opened the virtual trading floor of its flagship financial literacy programme, the JSE Investment Challenge, for the 50th year.

Designed to highlight the importance of investing and increase financial knowledge among South African schoolchildren and tertiary students, the challenge gives them an opportunity to invest a virtual amount of R1-million on the stock market in actual JSE-listed shares over a six-month period.

Their performance is tracked and measured against other competitors and the floor closes in September.

“For five decades, the competition has been a significant vehicle to promote financial literacy, demystify the trading landscape, as well as encourage savings and investment from an early age,” says Idris Seedat, head of transformation and corporate social investment at the JSE.

“Using gamification, we are now better able to make the competition engaging and accessible to participants from all backgrounds, ensuring that thousands more are equipped with the fundamental skills required to build wealth.”

Last year, top-performing teams in the university and school competition attained a growth of 21.73% and 8.4%, respectively, against a negative 11.8% by the JSE All Share Index during the same period. The winners were from Acudeo College Crystal Park, Claremont High School and the University of the Witwatersrand.

High schools may enter one or more teams of four members each. The pupils must be in grades 8 to 12 and a teacher must supervise each team. University students must form a team with members registered with the same institution. Each team must have a minimum of two and a maximum of four members. All students are eligible, regardless of their field of study.

Monthly prizes are awarded to the bestperforming teams, and overall winners win their share of R1-million in prizes, including a trip to an international stock exchange for participants in the university game. Prizes usually comprise Satrix vouchers so that participants can use the knowledge gained and put their money to work.

To register for the competition, visit schools.jse.co.za or university.jse.co.za.