World’s top finance students will congregate in Hong Kong on April 17, 2010 to compete in the 4th Annual CFA Institute Global Investment Research Challenge (Global IRC) organized by CFA Institute. From 425 teams across the globe, four finalists from top universities have won an all-expense paid trip to Hong Kong to vie for the prestigious title and a prize of USD 10,000 for their university.
After winning the local and regional competitions sponsored by CFA Institute member societies, Brigham Young University (U.S.), Fordham University (New York), University of Cape Town (South Africa), and University of the Philippines (Philippines) earned their place as finalists for the Global IRC. The students were mentored by CFA charterholders in writing their equity research reports and presentations on publicly traded companies.
Ashvin Vibhakar, CFA, Managing Director, Asia Pacific Operations, CFA Institute, said “On its 4th year now, we continue to stand amazed at the level of professionalism displayed by the students in their research reports and presentations. Our mission to lead the investment profession globally by setting the highest standards of ethics, education, and professional excellence, and for the competitors learn the necessary attributes for professional success are being manifested through the competition. These talented students should be extremely proud to have reached the final and we wish them all the best.”
CFA Institute, the global association for the investment profession, and its member societies established the Global IRC to provide University students with unparalleled experience of working with investment industry professionals and publicly traded companies in producing an equity research report. All participants are introduced and held to the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.
“Having reached the Global IRC, we feel proud to say that Filipino competence and talent is at par with that of other universities. Through the competition, these future finance analysts have been trained and exposed to the importance of ethical and professional standards, best practices, market integrity and transparency,” said April Lynn Lee-Tan, CFA, President of the CFA Society of the Philippines.
Sponsored by Thomson Reuters and Wiley & Sons, the 4th Global IRC will have Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Head and External Managers Division of Reserves Management Department, Martin Matsui, as this year’s keynote speaker. The finalists will present and defend their research to a panel of judges, comprising of Elizabeth Soon, CFA, Managing Director of PineBridge Investments Asia Ltd, Mohammad Shoaib, CFA, Presidents’ Council Representative for Asia Pacific Region, CFA Institute, and CEO of Al Meezan Investment Management Limited, Robert R. Johnson, CFA, Senior Managing Director of CFA Institute, Tim Gaumer, CFA, Director of fundamental research for StarMine, and TK Yap, CFA, former member of the CFA Institute Board of Governors, and Executive Director of OCBC Securities.