LABUAN — Team VADACHINA from Universiti Malaysia Sabah Labuan International Campus (UMSKAL) emerged champion in the university category of the 8th Annual Stock Trading Competition (STC) 2026 recently.
The team, comprising Shawwin A/L Cholaventan, Aravvinthan A/L Jaganathan and Tamil Thesigan A/L Mathavan, won the title after recording a return on investment (ROI) of 12.38 per cent.
They received RM500 cash sponsored by Bursa Malaysia, the main sponsor of STC 2026, together with certificates of participation.
The competition, held at the Multipurpose Lab and Theatrette Hall, UMSKAL, brought together university and school students in a competitive financial education platform aimed at enhancing investment knowledge and decision-making skills.
A total of 42 teams participated in the competition, comprising 32 teams in the university category and 10 teams in the school category.
This year’s edition also marked a milestone with the first participation of international teams from Kasetsart University, Thailand, and Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Brunei Darussalam, strengthening STC’s position as a regional and international investment education platform.
The competition was organised by the International Finance Club, Faculty of International Finance Labuan (FKAL), UMSKAL, to provide participants with practical learning experience through stock market simulation.
It enabled participants to apply financial theories, analyse market information and make investment decisions in a dynamic and competitive environment.
In the university category, AL-FALAAH from UNISSA, Brunei Darussalam, represented by Ak Muhammad Adli Rusyaidi Pg Mohammad Shahruldin, Muhammad Syazwi Haji Hassan and Norhuwaina Haji Norihwan, finished second with an ROI of 9.37 per cent.
Team TVK from UMSKAL, comprising Keerthana A/P Uyappan, Deva Nair A/L Ravi and Saravannan A/L Ganeeswaran, took third place with an ROI of 8.03 per cent.
The second and third-place winners received RM300 and RM200 respectively, along with certificates of participation.
For the school category, Team BLUETOOTH, comprising Form Five students from SMK Labuan — Michellie Chong Kai Ting, Kymberlie Kuan Vui Huin and Cherrie Lim Jia Qi — emerged champion with an ROI of 6.64 per cent.
The runner-up was TEAM 6UKM, represented by Form Six students from Pusat Tingkatan Enam SMK Labuan — Jesslyn Tan Ai Xin, Muhammad Fawjun Ismail and Nurin Iffah Athilah Mohd Khairuddin — with an ROI of 1.63 per cent.
Third place went to BURSA ALCHEMISTS, comprising Form Five SMK Labuan students Nuralyah Salleh Hussein, Ardeanna Nurhelmie and Farisha Syahira Khairulfandy.
The champion, second and third-place winners in the school category received RM300, RM200 and RM100 respectively, together with certificates of participation.
The prizes were presented by FKAL Deputy Dean (Academic and International), Dr Ricky Chia Chee Jiun, and FKAL Deputy Dean (Student Affairs and Alumni), Dr Noor Hassanah Husin.
Also present were FKAL Dean Associate Professor Dr Geoffrey Harvey Tanakinjal, Programme Chief Coordinator Dr Aminah Shari, School Category Programme Director Muhammad Hanafi Mohammad and University Category Programme Director Laiba Ijaz Khan.
The opening and closing ceremonies were also attended by Vincent Voo, representing RHB Investment Bank Berhad; PMFKAL President Muhammad Mirza Maideen; UMSKAL Student Representative Council Vice-President Nurul Anisyah Suardi; and Assistant Professor Dr Sophon Yamklin from the Faculty of Economics, Kasetsart University, Thailand.
Dr Aminah expressed appreciation to Bursa Malaysia as the main sponsor, as well as SEDC Energy, CGS International Securities Malaysia Sdn Bhd, AAE International Trust Ltd, RHB Investment Bank Berhad and Labuan Times for supporting STC 2026.
