The prestigious Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge, which continues to attract the brightest students each year, saw a record number of participants—over 2,400 teams from 46 countries worldwide tested their skills in the investment arena. Among them, the team from the Financial Engineering program of the Faculty of Business Management at VILNIUS TECH stood out, achieving impressive results in a short period.
First-year students Normantas Ivaškovas, Justas Augustas Sušinskas, Kristupas Kriuka, and Titas Budrys, under the mentorship of Associate Professor Dr. Nijolė Maknickienė, achieved a 7.18% return on their portfolio in just five weeks. By choosing investments from over 100,000 stocks and applying various strategies, they ranked 424th in the world (out of 2,453 teams) and 118th in Europe (out of 590 teams). This unique experience not only expanded the students' knowledge of markets but also equipped them with skills that will be valuable in their professional careers.
Participating in the international competition, the students share their experience, impressions, and advice on how this competition expanded their horizons and helped them gain valuable skills. They reveal which decisions were crucial, what they learned about global financial markets, and how this experience inspired them to set even bigger goals for the future.
Normantas Ivaškovas, a student at the Faculty of Business Management, says he first heard about the competition during the introductory week at VILNIUS TECH. "Since the competition seemed interesting, after consulting with the faculty dean Prof. Dr. Vida Davidavičienė, I decided to form a team and participate. Later, we prepared for the competition by analyzing current trends, promising sectors, and companies. We worked on improving our analytical, forecasting, collaboration, and other important skills," says Normantas.
Choosing the right investment securities was crucial for the Financial Engineering students' participation in the international competition, given there were over 100,000 options. "Our main strategy was to monitor companies that were about to announce their financial results, as stocks of companies with good results tend to rise significantly. We also selected several stocks closely related to cryptocurrencies, which also helped us make a substantial profit," Normantas Ivaškovas shares.
When asked what advice he would give to other students, Normantas responded: "I recommend all students participate in such competitions, as they offer real-world experience that can later be applied in the job market and help them stand out. Participating in Bloomberg’s challenge is also a great way to test your investment strategy. I strongly encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity next year!"
Associate Professor Dr. Nijolė Maknickienė, a faculty member of VILNIUS TECH's Faculty of Business Management and an expert in the Financial Engineering program, was the team's main consultant in the Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge 2024. With her extensive experience in finance, she helped the students not only prepare for the challenge but also apply advanced investment strategies in practice. The consultant shares her insights on the importance of this competition for the students' academic and professional development.
Asked about her evaluation of the students’ preparation and ability to apply theoretical knowledge in practical situations during the competition, Associate Professor Dr. Nijolė Maknickienė states that the students participating in the competition were first-year students, so they were not yet set in rigid theoretical frameworks. "They were curious, independent, and developed investment strategies on their own, combining different perspectives and learning from their mistakes.
Participating in the competition will help them decide on their career path in finance. Trying to invest a million euros and seeing the real-time results of their decisions enriched not only their investment knowledge and market sense but also their self-awareness. It’s better to try once than to hear about it ten times. In their future studies, students will be able to critically evaluate the subjects taught, taking into account the experience gained in a dynamic competition," says the Associate Professor from the Department of Financial Engineering.
Participation in the Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge 2024 has undoubtedly been a valuable experience for both VILNIUS TECH students and their mentor. The competition not only expanded the participants' financial knowledge but also provided the opportunity to familiarize themselves with global markets and gain practical skills that will be important in their future careers. This competition demonstrated that Lithuanian students are ready to compete internationally and strive for professional competence in the global market.
Interview prepared by Dr. Jolanta Nalivaikė, Communications and Community Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Business Management.
