Students prove their trading prowess

MIRI: Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) has taken a significant stride in promoting financial literacy and innovation by hosting the inaugural National-Level Financial Instruments Trading Competition.

This event brought together some of the brightest young minds from higher education institutions across Malaysia and Brunei.

The competition not only tested students’ trading skills but also focused on fostering a deeper understanding of the rapidly evolving financial markets, including cryptocurrencies and emerging technologies.

Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Curtin Malaysia, Professor Vincent Lee, said that such competition is relevance in an era where financial innovation and risk management are paramount.

“The pace of change in the financial world is staggering, with innovations like cryptocurrencies transforming markets at lightning speed,” said Prof Lee in a statement.

“This competition is part of Curtin Malaysia’s mission to equip students with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge they need to navigate these changes responsibly and effectively.”

He further highlighted Curtin Malaysia’s leadership in financial education and research, citing a notable project on developing a Regulatory Risk Index for the Cryptocurrency Market.

Supported by a Fundamental Research Grant, this cutting-edge research aims to address the regulatory challenges posed by the volatile cryptocurrency sector.

“We are proud to be at the forefront of shaping the future of finance, not only through education but also through impactful research,” Prof. Lee added.

The competition also captured the attention of Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (Tourism) Datuk Sebastian Ting who commended Curtin Malaysia’s efforts to promote financial literacy and responsible financial behaviour.

“In a time when scams and speculative ventures are proliferating, especially in the cryptocurrency space, it’s crucial that we educate our young people on sound financial principles,” Ting said during his speech at the closing ceremony recently.

He also encouraged collaboration between universities to build stronger financial frameworks and policies for Malaysia’s future.

The event drew 16 teams from universities.

The competition’s top prize went to Lai An Xuan and Wong Wun Kei from UTAR, who secured the first-place win and a RM2,000 cash prize.

Close on their heels were Vergenia Wong Fung Ling and Siti Nafisah Mohd Nor from UiTM Kota Kinabalu, taking second place with RM1,600, followed by Chew Li Yin and Azzaro Nazizi from Sunway University, who claimed third place and RM1,200.

Also present were Sarimah Ramthandin, Director and Head of Innovation, Advisory, and Industry Engagement of the Securities Industry Development Corporation (SIDC), representing Chief Executive Officer Tengku Zarina Tengku Chik, alongside SIDC’s Director and Head of Professional Standards and Qualifications Salleh Hassan, Manager, Certification and Qualification of SIDC Syazni Idris, Dean of Faculty of Business Professor Pauline Ho Poh Ling, and Head of the Department of Accounting, Finance, and Economics Dr Dhanuskodi Rengasamy.