29 Jan, 2014American University of Sharjah students complete successful trading game sponsored by DFM and NASDAQ Dubai

Students atAmerican University of Sharjah (AUS) have completed an exciting month-longtrading game sponsored by Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and NASDAQ Dubai, inwhich they gained an insight into real-life investment strategies.

More than 30School of Business Management students took part in the inaugural simulated onlineMock Securities Exchange competition.They traded stocks, foreign exchange, indices, exchange-traded funds andcommodities. Each player started with a notional 100,000 dirhams.

The winner was Omar Kayali, whoreceived a nomination for a potential internship at NASDAQ Dubai or DFM and aniPad Air. Zahra Fawzi and Fahad AbdulGhani, in second and third place, each won an Apple iPad Mini. Craig Hewett, NASDAQ Dubai's Senior VicePresident of Business Development, handed out the prizes at an awards ceremony.

Hamed Ali,Chief Executive of NASDAQ Dubai, said: The students of today are the businessleaders, finance experts and investors of tomorrow and it is vital for the economic success of the UAE that they learn responsible and effective investment skills. This online trading initiative sets them on the right pathand we are delighted to provide further support by offering the possibility ofan internship at the region 's international exchange, as we move into a newperiod of innovation and expansion.

The two mostpopular asset classes amongst the students were US stocks and commodities.Apple shares and oil (light crude) were in almost every student 's portfolio.

Dr. Liliana Danila, Assistant Professor of Economics at AUS, said:"The Mock competitionprovided a virtual environment for our students to apply concepts learned inclass and to test themselves. In addition to being a fun event, it allowedstudents to realize the complementarity between course work and professional experience. At AUS, we aim to help our students grow in many ways, other than academically. TheMock Competition proved to be a perfect medium to increase our students’motivation for professional and educational engagement alike."

As thecompetitors traded their way to triumph, students at the university wereenthusiastic and curious as the excitement built up through the month of thecompetition. Following the success of its inauguralMock Securities Exchange competition, the Dean 's Business Team ofAUS plans to develop this initiative further and provide more financialeducation programs to students.