In a statement today, Bursa Malaysia said the objective of the challenge is to raise awareness and interest in the Malaysian derivatives market among millennials and undergraduates.

This will be achieved through experiential learning and the provision of essential information for beginners to start trading derivative instruments.

It said participants will compete in a simulated environment that mirrors “live” futures markets via the BursaMKTPLC derivatives trading simulator.

Acting director Saleem Kader Bakas said the challenge will enable retail investors, particularly beginners, to hone their trading skills by giving them the opportunity to practise real-time trading in a virtual environment without risking their own money.

He said the experience gained from the challenge will help them become more confident in making informed trading decisions, which will benefit them when they enter the actual marketplace.

“The exchange’s retail participation in the derivatives market has increased in recent years, rising to 38% as of September 2022 from 25% in 2019.

“Given this growing interest, the exchange is investing in such educational and experiential learning tools to help the general public understand trading fundamentals and how to trade responsibly,” he said.