For more than three decades the JSE/Liberty Life Investment Challenge has been educating South African high school learners about the ins and outs of investment on the stock market while giving them opportunities to win prizes.

Now, on its 35th year, the JSE/Liberty Life Investment Challenge has awarded a prize of R500 each to the winners of the March and April heat of the competition.

In March, Althorpe College’s “The Perfect 4 – RSA” protected their investment of R 1,000,000 best against inflation and derived the highest income from their overall Income Portfolio with a starting distribution of 70% cash and 30% in the JSE Top 40 equities.

“The Stig” from Maritzburg College won the Equity Growth Portfolio, starting out with 50% of their overall investment in cash and the other 50% invested in equities, while “Esouth – Side Brokers” from Parktown Boys High School drove their Speculator Portfolio to the highest growth, using the full volatility risk and reward principle, implementing the full scope of financial instruments available to them in the competition cash, equities, warrants and derivatives.

In April, “DI Corp” of Pearson High School, “The Falcons” from Glenwood High School and Clifton College’s “Share It” won in the Income, Equity and Speculator Portfolios respectively.

“The JSE/Liberty Life Investment Challenge aims to increase financial literacy among the South African youth therefore securing them a better future. We would like to congratulate and express our gratitude to the March and April winners for being imperative role partners in the realisation of this aim,” says Senior General Manager of JSE Education, Maureen Dlamini.

Each of the 4 students in all these groups have been rewarded R500 for best performance in their respective portfolios. A further R500 has been awarded to their school as well as another R500 for their teacher or mentor.

In addition to winning the prizes the winners continuously gain exposure and experience in financial and other life skills such as budgeting, economic research and team work. This in turn assists them in deciding future career paths.

Compared to last year’s 6500 the JSE/Liberty Life Investment Challenge 2009 received more than 7100 learners from 397 schools across the country and over 2000 students from 28 universities and colleges in South Africa.

The JSE/Liberty Life Investment Challenge is an ongoing annual competition that enables learners and students to become aware of the fundamentals of investment strategy, encouraging them to research and strategise on issues surrounding the trading of JSE-listed shares.

Entrants have a choice of selecting one or more risk portfolios that they wish to take part in for the competition namely: Income (low risk), Equity Growth (moderate risk) and Speculator (high risk).

The Challenge runs until September and is open to all grade 8 -12 learners from any South African high school. Students from universities and independent colleges are also eligible to participate. All school entrants must be in teams of four and have to be supervised by a teacher or mentor.

Grade 12 learners will need permission from their principal to enter. University teams must consist of a minimum of two members and a maximum of four. In the end of the competition, five prizes amounting to R60 000 per portfolio will be awarded to the overall winners of the Income, Equity Growth and Speculator Portfolios and for the universities and colleges the top prize of an all expenses paid overseas trip plus R25000.00

Registration is open continuously throughout the JSE/ Liberty Life Investment Challenge for school and forms are obtainable from their website or from the JSE’s Challenge Co-ordinators on 011 – 520 7116/ 7344/ 7168.

Each team will be required to pay a registration fee of R120 per team per portfolio entered.