The Portfolio Management Challenge (PMC), organised by SUSS Investment Group in partnership with Moomoo SG, returned for its second edition this year with the finals being held on campus on 18th March 2023. Open to all undergraduates in Singapore, the tertiary-level case competition puts the participants’ investment and portfolio construction knowledge to the test by challenging teams to manage and monitor their constructed portfolio with real-time data over a holding period of 6 weeks.
A total of 144 students from 38 teams across the various tertiary institutions in Singapore participated in the competition. Out of the 38 teams, four of them were selected as finalists based on their submissions. During the finals, the top four teams had to present their portfolio recommendations to a panel of judges experienced in asset management. The judging criteria included factors such as the approach to portfolio recommendation and asset allocation decisions, the rigour of the analysis of the market conditions, presentation delivery and responses to the judge’s questions.
PMC2023 Project Director and Treasurer of SUSS Investment Group Ezekiel Woo shared, “We received a diverse range of portfolios with thoughtful analysis and strategic investment decisions. It was clear that the participants had put in a lot of effort and dedication into their submissions, which made it a tough decision for the judges to make.”
Winners, Runners-up of SUSS Investment Group Portfolio Management Challenge 2023 pictured with the judging panel and members of the SUSS Investment Group.
While all four teams walked away as winners on the day, Team FTX Risk Management Department from Singapore University of Social Sciences emerged as champion. The team, comprising of Year 2 Finance Students Soh De Wei, Su Lin Lin Htet, Tan Ki Siong and Alvin Wang beat Team Lunar from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and took home the cash prize of $3,000.
Besides giving the participants a taste of being portfolio managers through the kinds of questions asked, the judging panel shared their insights and expertise in investment and portfolio construction. The judges also imparted valuable advice on how the students could improve their analyses and presentations by thinking from the client’s perspective.
For NTU student Zenn Leong, participating in the month-long trading competition was a difficult yet enriching experience. “Having to put together a portfolio that would maximise profits while lowering risk gave me and my team the chance to research different investment strategies and market patterns. One of our main takeaways from the competition was exercising patience when dealing with a volatile market and taking a longer-term view when investing. This competition provided us with real-world exposure to portfolio management and allowed me to hone the analytical and portfolio management skills needed for a future career in finance.”
Congratulations once again to Team FTX Risk Management Department for their achievements!
All smiles from Team FTX Risk Management post-competition