More than 22,000 high school learners and university students have gained a solid understanding of how to invest in the stock market this year through the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Investment Challenge.
This competition, now in its 45 ^th  year, is an ongoing annual competition that enables learners and students to become aware of the fundamentals of investment strategy, encouraging them to research and strategize issues surrounding the trading or JSE-listed shares.
Of the 400 schools competing this year, three quarters are in disadvantaged areas, with teams from Lethukuthula Secondary School in Katlehong, Gauteng, winning four of the top five awards in the Income category. This school is clearly producing financially savvy learners, as the same school won two awards last year.
Each of the winners gets a secure start to their financial future by winning in the form of a Satrix Investment Plan so that they can continue to grow their winnings through smart investment decisions.
The Investment Challenge is the JSE flagship project for consumer education and part of its corporate social investment (CSI) initiatives. “Our aim is to grow a more financially savvy and responsible,” says Ralph Speirs, CSI Officer at the JSE. “We demystify the JSE for them when they start earning an income, but fundamentally understanding how the stock market works.”
Speirs says the JSE is playing a role in the long-term retirement planning and long-term retirement planning. Each school and university team has been given an imaginary strategy for a six month period.
There are monthly and annual prizes for the best performing teams, their schools, and their teacher or mentor. The overall winning team members each have R4,000 deposited into a Satrix Investment account, while the top performing university team also wins a trip to the International Stock Exchange.
The game also as a broker, as well as other career paths in the financial sector. The winners attended a prize-giving ceremony at the JSE in Sandton, where they were awarded their prizes. Here are the winners of the JSE Investment Schools Challenge 2018:
Income Portfolio:

1. Lethas Maude Str. Traders, Lethukuthula Secondary School, Gauteng.
2. Lethas Stock Operators, Lethukuthula Secondary School, Gauteng
3. IZI-MSZS, Zimele High School, Eastern Cape
4. Lethas Market Genius, Lethukuthula Secondary School, Gauteng
5. Lethas Bulls, Lethukuthula Secondary School, Gauteng

Equity Portfolio:

1. PHS, Pearson High School, Eastern Cape
2. Sneaky Snakes, Stellenbosch High School, Western Cape
3. Fortius Quo Fidelius, DF Malan School, Western Cape
4. MJJJ, DF Malan School, Western Cape
5. The PHDs, Ashton International College, Benoni, Gauteng

Speculator Portfolio:

1. Bull Traders, Assumption Convent School, Gauteng
2. Theory Y, Ashton International College, Benoni, Gauteng
3. Infininininin…tea, Victory House Private School, Gauteng
4. PBHS Small loan of a million dollars, Pretoria Boys High School, Gauteng
5. Ephemeral Style, Waterfall College, KwaZulu-Natal

Winning teams in the University Speculator portfolio:

1. UCTINV Donuts & Co, University of Cape Town
2. Sneaky Pofadders, University of Stellenbosch
3. Fire Breathing Rubber Ducks, University of South Africa