Top student-investor wins $1,000

First prize of $1,000 was awarded to Ye Tao, from University of Waterloo. Tao’s final portfolio value came to $256,451. Second and third place were awarded to Steve Leddy and Ryan Moisan, both from University of Wilfred Laurier. More than 450 students from across Canada participated.

Competing students are given $100,000 of imaginary money and are encouraged to increase the portfolio value within a few months. The main sponsor of the event is the Toronto Stock Exchange. Other sponsors include: RBC Dominion Securities Inc., the Investment Equity Traders Association of Toronto, Star Data Systems, Bell Canada, Globe Hysales, and Sun Microsystems of Canada.

“We hope that the students learn how the market works. We don’t necessarily want them to learn how to become fabulous day trading investors, but we want them to understand the mechanics,” says Sandy Rung, director of stock market competitions at Wilfred Laurier University.