North Ayrshire pupils take on stockmarket challenge

Jan 15 2010 by Lorraine Howard, Irvine Herald

PUPILS from Greenwood Academy and Kilwinning Academy will have the chance to experience the adrenalin of dealing on a live trading floor when they take part in a Stock Market Challenge.

Organised by Skills Development Scotland, a total of 25 schools wil be taking part in the challenge at Glasgow’s Mitchell Library on Wednesday, January 20.

In the run-up to the events, business education and maths teachers will run in-school challenges to select the five pupils who will represent them.

Working in small teams, the S3 pupils will be challenged to use their skills to manage a portfolio of shares and foreign currency.

They will make their investment decisions by interpreting and analysing information from the financial markets.

The simulated live trading will take place over a two-hour period and the team with the highest portfolio at the closing bell wins.

Damien Yeates, chief executive of Skills Development Scotland, said: “Stock Market Challenge is a great way to allow young people to experience first-hand how the markets operate and, perhaps, even shape their future career aspirations, giving them a taste for working in financial services.”