Suits, signals and a whole lot of shouting
250 students from across North America took part in the 2015 John Molson Stock Exchange Competition on November 14. | Photos and video clip by Meagan Boisse
On Saturday, November 14, the beautiful St-James Theatre in Montreal’s Old Port transformed into an open-outcry trading floor.
For the sixth consecutive year, the John Molson Stock Exchange competition — organized by the Finance and Investment Students’ Association (FISA) at Concordia's John Molson School of Business — gave students from across North America the unique opportunity to experience the excitement of the pits of yore.
Medrick Santavicca, president of FISA, says this year’s competition was a huge success. “We had 20 per cent more students than last year. It was wild, amazing ... People were going crazy and it was just a really good time.”
He credits Concordia alum and software engineer Sam Assaf for creating Stockimulate, the one-of-a-kind trading application that ran the entire competition. “If it weren't for him, this event would certainly not have been possible.”
Hand signals and shouts rose from the frenzied crowd for four intense quarters as 250 participants vied for control of the pit, soliciting bids in hopes of maximizing their team’s fictitious portfolio.
The day-long event was also an occasion to network with other students and industry professionals, while competing for $5,000 worth of cash prizes.
For Krista Hattemm, VP of public relations for FISA, the excitement was bittersweet, as this year is her last as part of the organizing team.
“I've been with FISA for four years, and quite literally this has been the best year ever. There was a ton of participants from outside the city, outside of the country even, and I feel like it's going to be hard to let go.”
Madhia Khadim, event volunteer and an accounting student at JMSB, says she got involved because the competition was a chance to learn about something outside of her own discipline.
“It also gave me a great opportunity to see and meet new people, and to know how it is to experience an actual stock exchange.”
Find out more about the Finance and Investment Students’ Association at Concordia.