Curtin Finance and Investment Club empowers students with stock trading workshop

Miri – 17 August 2023 – The student-run Curtin Finance and Investment Club (CFIC) of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently organised a stock trading workshop entitled ‘Is Trading For Me?’ to provide students of the university with a valuable opportunity to enhance their knowledge of stock trading and foster a culture of trading within the university community.

Such stock trading workshops are a hallmark of CFIC in its goal to promote financial literacy and investment strategy among its members and the wider student body. With an emphasis on hands-on learning experiences, the club aims to empower students with practical knowledge in the field of finance and investment through an ongoing workshop series that has been running for over a year-and-a-half.

The workshops are facilitated by finance lecturer Alpha Ngadan, who has extensive experience in the stock market and brings a wealth of expertise and real-world insights to the table, supplementing the theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom with practical guidance on how to navigate the stock market successfully.

The workshop started with an introduction of what trading is and how to identify one’s trading profile. As most of the participants were mostly new to trading, it was an opportunity for them to understand stock market fundamentals like the different types of trading styles before moving on to more complex aspects of trading such as analysing financial statements and company performances, identifying investment opportunities and trends, developing effective trading strategies, and managing risks and maximising returns.

Through a combination of interactive discussions, case studies, and simulated trading exercises, the students were able to gain a comprehensive understanding of the stock trading landscape. Importantly, they were also encouraged to adopt a disciplined and informed approach to trading, emphasising the importance of thorough research and risk management.

According to Alpha, trading is more about managing risk. While fundamental analyses and technical analyses are equally important, it is also crucial to manage risk.

To get them started on their trading journey, the workshop’s practical session introduced the participants to common trading tools downloadable from Google Play or the Apple App Store and a chart website that offers technical and fundamental analyses for free. Once they had registered to virtual accounts and installed the various technical indicators, the students practised selecting potential stocks based on the technical and fundamental analyses.

“Virtual accounts are really helpful as it allows traders to back test their trading strategies before embarking on trading with real money,” said Siti Hadjar, one of the participants. She also said the Curtin Trading Room at Curtin Malaysia, where the workshop was held, was conducive for such training as it simulates a real trading floor environment, allowing students to practice trading in a safe virtual environment.

By organising such workshops, CFIC aims to create a culture of trading and investment within the university community. By equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the stock market, CFIC believes that students will be better prepared to make informed financial decisions throughout their lives.

“We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to host this insightful stock trading workshop,” said Rysheen Lee, president of the club. “Our goal at CFIC is to empower students with practical finance skills that will not only enhance their academic journey but also equip them for a successful future. We believe that through initiatives like our workshops, we can develop a generation of financially literate individuals who are able to make informed investment decisions.”

Meanwhile, Alpha said the popularity and success of the stock trading workshops is a testament to Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Business and CFIC’s commitment to bridging the gap between theory and practice in finance education.

He said plans for future workshops are already underway, and over the next month or so, the CFIC will be organising follow-up workshops to further guide students, lecturers and members of the public on how to start trading. CFIC will also be organising a trading challenge with prize money amounting to RM1,500.

Information on Curtin Malaysia can be found on its website at www.curtin.edu.my, or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Tik-Tok.

The workshop being held in the Curtin Trading Room.

Alpha highlighting successful trading practices.

The Curtin Trading Room at Curtin Malaysia (exterior).

The Curtin Trading Room at Curtin Malaysia (interior).