Johannesburg, 9 December 2021: The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has announced the winners of the JSE Virtual Trading Game (VTG), an online trading competition that simulates a real trading environment and gives members of the general public a risk-free opportunity to trade shares.

The initiative is part of the JSE’s efforts to be a leading socially responsible integrated exchange on the African continent, inspired to build a prosperous future for all who are within reach of its influence. To this end, the exchange is aiming to play an active role in creating a financially literate society in South Africa.

“This was the main inspiration behind launching the VTG initiative that enables the average South African to gain real life financial skills while also participating in an exciting competition. Earlier this year, we encouraged all South Africans to take advantage of this great opportunity to find out more about trading shares online and to learn about the stock market in general,” says Vuyo Lee, Director: Marketing and Corporate Affairs at the JSE.

The rules

The competition was launched on 1 September and ran until 30 October. To qualify, participants in the VTG needed to ensure that they place at least one trade between 1 September and 30 October, trade (buy and/or sell shares) at least 15 times between 1 September and 30 October and spend R750 000 of their virtual money during the competition.

“We believe that the VTG is a highly practical and great way to open doors to those who are interested in trading, helping them to take the next step and create their own accounts. As the JSE, we recognise the key role we must play in promoting financial literacy, as well as growing retail investment on the JSE. We want to send out a strong message that investing on the exchange is not as intimidating or complicated as many people think,” says Lee.

Winners

Winners of the competition received a share of R60 000 in Satrix vouchers – R30 000 for first place, R20 000 for second and R10 000 for third. All prizes are in the form of Satrix vouchers, enabling winners to start their real investment journey. Prize winners may choose which exchange traded fund(s) to purchase on the Satrix platform or alternatively choose to withdraw the cash.

The top three winners are: In first place - Jacobus Rossouw, from Gauteng; in second place - Evan Engelbrecht, from the Eastern Cape; and in third place - Frank Stevens, from the Western Cape. The winners were announced during a virtual awards ceremony that was broadcast live on Facebook, on 8 December.

“I would like to congratulate our top three winners. They did really well, and I wish them all the best in their future trading activities,” says Lee.

“We hope that through the VTG, South Africans will begin to appreciate that investing on the JSE is accessible to everyone willing to set time aside to learn about investments. I strongly encourage anyone interested in becoming financially self-sufficient to take up this opportunity in future to learn and earn while gaining an appreciation of the workings of a well-regulated market for financial instruments,” says Lee.

ENDS

ABOUT THE JSE

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has a well-established history operating as a marketplace for trading financial products. It is a pioneering, globally connected exchange group that enables inclusive economic growth through trusted, world class, socially responsible products, and services for the investor of the future. It offers secure and efficient primary and secondary capital markets across a diverse range of securities, spanning equities, derivatives, and debt markets. It prides itself as being the market of choice for local and international investors looking to gain exposure to leading capital markets on the African continent. The JSE is currently ranked in the Top 20 largest stock exchanges in the world by market capitalisation, and is the largest stock exchange in Africa, having been in operation for over 130 years.

As a leading global exchange, the JSE co-creates, unlocks value & makes real connections happen.

www.jse.co.za