The Johannesburg Stock Exchange’s (JSE) Virtual Trading Game is growing in popularity as more people become aware of how it helps individuals to learn to invest.
Director of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at the JSE, Vuyo Lee, says the JSE’s Virtual Trading Game, was launched to drive awareness about the stock market.
Since its inception, the Virtual Trading Game has attracted increasing numbers of participants, says Lee.
“The JSE Virtual Trading Game is a game that aims to teach South Africans about investing on the JSE and the larger role that such investment plays in the country’s economy,” explains Lee.
“The game helps those participating to learn about the fundamentals of investing and encourages them to research and strategise around trading of JSE listed instruments.”
While the actual JSE is a growth platform for companies looking to raise capital and connects buyers and sellers in equity, derivative and debt markets, the Virtual Trading Game offers an insight into the bourse.
Lee says participants in the JSE Virtual Trading Game learn and test their trading skills through a simulated trading programme, where performance is tracked and measured.
The JSE considers the competition as a real opportunity for South Africans to find out more about trading shares online.
“As the continent’s biggest stock exchange and as a responsible corporate citizen, we would also like to play an active role in creating a financially literate society in South Africa,” says Lee.
“What better way to do this than to allow South Africans to gain real-life skills in investing and trading on the stock exchange while participating in an exciting game, and also stand a chance to win investment vouchers for their participation?”
Explaining how the Virtual Trading Game works, Lee says participants are offered R1 million in virtual funds to invest and trade with.
“Since the R1 million is virtual, participants have nothing to lose and everything to gain,” says Lee.
“Take on the challenge, invest in yourself and learn how to make your money work for you so that you can build a financially secure future for yourself.”
The rankings on the leader board are based on the holdings (gains and losses) of each player. To keep things simple, the competition entails trading of shares and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) only. Participants will also benefit from earning interest on their cash balances.
Who qualifies to participate In the JSE Virtual Trading Game?
The Virtual Trading Game is open to the general public, for anyone who is a South African citizen or who is a resident of South Africa.
Excluded from participation are high school learners and higher education students as there is the JSE Investment Challenge for them, professional traders, or those working for a stockbroking firm, asset management, or wealth management institution.
Directors, officers, employees, contractors, agents, or consultants of the JSE, including their spouses, life partners, business partners, or immediate family members may also not participate in the Virtual Trading Game.
Lee says that the JSE is really hopeful that through the Virtual Trading Game, retail investors will see that investing on the exchange is not as intimidating or complicated as many people tend to think.
“We strongly encourage people who are interested in money and financial matters to take up this opportunity to learn and earn while gaining a quick appreciation of the workings of a well-regulated market for financial instruments,” she says.
This exciting competition runs until 23 September 2022 and it is an opportunity for people to learn about investing on the stock market via a simulated trading game that mimics listed stocks that are traded on the JSE.
R100 000 up is for grabs in investment vouchers, so go ahead and start trading today! Winners will be announced on 28 September 2022.
“I strongly encourage anyone interested in wealth creation and investments to take up this opportunity to learn and earn while gaining an appreciation of the workings of a well-regulated market for financial instruments,” says Lee.
To register, players need to go to virtualtradinggame.jse.co.za.