CFA Institute Research Challenge Hong Kong Local Final 2023-24

To: UG Year 2 or above students,

CFA Society Hong Kong is inviting applications for its “CFA Institute Research Challenge Hong Kong Local Final 2023-24”.

The CFA Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition that provides university students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis and professional ethics. Students will have the opportunity to gain real-world experience as they assume the role of a research analyst.

Students will be judged on their analytical, valuation, report writing, and presentation skills. Top 5 teams with highest written report scores will be presenting their research results and recommendations to a high-profile panel of judges at the Presentation and Award Ceremony on February 17, 2024 (Saturday). Winners will be rewarded with scholarship, certificates, trophies and prizes.

The winning team at the Local Final will advance to the Regional Final and compete with the winning teams from other geographical regions for the opportunities to enter the Global Challenge in the pursuit of the final championship.  The Global Challenge consists of winners of the regional finals held in Asia Pacific, Europe and America. 

The Challenge consists of the following components:

• Analysing of a Public Company
• Mentoring by a Professional Research Analyst
• Writing an Equity Research Report
• Presenting Research Findings to a High-Profile Panel of Experts

Eligibility#:

1. Year 2 or above undergraduate and postgraduate students in the academic year of 2023-24 who have NEVER participated in this competition.
2. Students from all Faculties are welcome to join, but each team should have at least 1 member from HKU Business School.

#CFA Charterholders and students who have extensive prior work experience in fundamental company analysis are not eligible. 

Application Method:

Interested students should form a team of 3-5 members, which the team leader should take below two actions by September 20, 2023 (Wednesday).

1. Submit the School’s online application form at https://hku.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0xnZE6DkovbIZAG with personal details and CVs of each team member
2. Submit a presentation deck (max. 30 slides including appendices)* to provide investment recommendation of the listed company Sa Sa International Holdings Ltd (stock code 0178) by uploading the file along with the online application form. You should read through the written reports and presentation guidelines of the Research Challenge - HK Local Final Rules 2023-2024.pdf (P.6 – 13 of the attachment) before working on the deck.

Shortlisted teams will be invited to make a 10-minute presentation to the internal selection panel in the School’s preliminary screening*.

* Please note that the submitted presentation deck and presentation session is for the School’s preliminary selection purpose only. You need to submit a written report on a designated publicly traded company if your team is being selected to take part in this competition on behalf of our School.

For details regarding the background, challenge, rules and regulations of the challenge, please refer to the guidelines HEREor the competition website.

For enquiries, please contact Ms. Joanne Sun at wysun10@hku.hk through the Team leader.

Disclaimer:

1. The School will not be responsible for any expenses incurred in this Challenge.
2. The School shall not be held liable in the case that data collected by the organizer disputes, loss, or any other situations arise.