Just over 100 first year Accounting and Finance students had the opportunity to try their hand at trading stocks in a simulation exercise run by Amplify Trading.

Amplify Trading’s financial market training is used by some of the world’s largest financial institutions, including HSBC, Citibank, Credit Suisse and Morgan Stanley. This was their first visit to Lancaster, which was organised by Accounting and Finance lecturer Sayjda Talib. Amplify Trading shared their expertise with students on the Professional Skills module.

The students were divided into two groups, with one who were going to be the Investment Bankers in the simulation, and the others who were going to play the part of the Hedge Fund Managers.

Paul McCormick, Financial Careers Coach, said: “It’s been an inspirational event. It’s introduced students to the excitement and pressure of trading in financial markets.”

At the end of the event, students received a detailed report on their performance during the exercise and prizes were given for the students who performed best. These were: Federico Giuseppe Di Marzio (BSc Finance), Kevin Thull (BSc Finance), Jianguan Jiang ( BSc Accounting and Finance (industry)), Hiu Wai Kwok (BSc Accounting and Finance), Xiaoyin Liu (BSc Accounting and Finance) and Sijia Zhu (BSc Hons Accounting and Finance).

One of the students who took part in the event, Abiola Adelabu, said: “I found it quite stimulating. In lectures we talk about theory, but here we are doing the real thing. It gives you an idea what you are going to see (when you go out to work as a trader). The emotional side of trading too. You wouldn’t think you’d get this sort of experience at Uni.”

Classmate Thomas Inman said: “This event has been a huge opportunity for us to get real insight into the buy side and sell side.”

Other students said they enjoyed getting to grips with the practicalities of trading and learning more about a field they would like to work in.