In an effort to create a more investor literate citizenry and encourage further development of the local securities market, the T&T Securities and Exchange Commission (TTSEC), in partnership with the T&T Stock Exchange Ltd, has launched an online game, Top Trader Investment Game, for citizens over the age of 18.This game, which must be played using Facebook, is designed as an interactive tool to help participants understand the basics of investing in the stock market and securities products.
It encourages participants to build and manage an investment portfolio by evaluating stocks, managing risks and practising other investment fundamentals.To begin competing, players will be given a notional sum of TT$15,500 to invest in the T&T stock market and subsequently begin their portfolios.Portfolios will show increases or decreases over the course of the game, reflecting actual changes in the T&T Stock Exchange Ltd (TTSE).
Players are allowed to keep some cash on hand, but to begin playing, they must spend a total of at least $14,000 of their $15,500 starting sum. The three players with the highest portfolio values at the end of the period will be judged the winners. Inactive or dormant portfolios will be disqualified.The prizes, which have been sponsored by the T&T Stock Exchange Ltd, have no cash equivalent, but will entitle winners to purchase stock on the exchange.
The first prize is $7,500, with the second and third prizes being $5,000 and $3,500, respectively.The competition officially runs from January 2 to March 7, and is the third the TTSEC is conducting with the nation's young people. In July 2012, the commission conducted an essay competition for children between the ages of 13 to 17 years and an Investor Education Competition for young people between the ages of 18 to 25 years in March 2013.