Anglia Ruskin 'wolves' devour European crown in Bloomberg global trading challenge
These ‘wolves away from Wall Street’ were competing against more than 2,700 teams from 57 countries. ARU’s Team Alpha not only secured top spot in Europe but also ranked sixth in the world, showcasing exceptional skill and strategy in one of the most competitive student trading events worldwide.
The five-week challenge saw student teams use Bloomberg Terminals – the same technology relied upon by professional traders – to build and manage a simulated investment portfolio. The students analysed real-time market data, developed trading strategies, and adjusted their portfolios as markets moved, helping them build practical financial skills, teamwork and data-driven decision-making.
This year’s competition was the largest to date and, under the guidance of Dr Minh Nguyen, students took advantage of the facilities at ARU’s bespoke Bloomberg Financial Markets Lab.
Given a starting budget of $1 million, Team Alpha achieved a profit of $438,846. The team comprised Haseeb Ahmed, Sahana Gangappa Thippeswamy, Nandhini Jaiganesh, Nikhil Aedulla and Hasibub-Ul-Hasan Susmoy, .
Team captain Haseeb Ahmed, said: “We worked incredibly hard as a team, using data-driven strategies and real-time market analysis to refine our portfolio each week. Winning first place in Europe and placing sixth globally is something we’re truly proud of.
“Along the way, we learned how to make decisions under pressure and manage risk more realistically. We’re especially grateful to Dr Minh Nguyen, whose guidance helped us stay disciplined, focused, and confident throughout the challenge.”
Dr Nguyen, Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at ARU, said: “The success reflects the students' talent and commitment as well as the strength of our Bloomberg-based teaching, which helps them apply theory to real markets. This is fantastic for the students’ CVs and they have a bright future ahead of them.”
The Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and the fast-paced world of global finance. By engaging with real market data and professional tools, students gain invaluable insights into investment strategies and risk management – skills that are highly sought after by employers in the financial sector.
With main campuses in Cambridge, Chelmsford, Peterborough and Writtle, Anglia Ruskin University is the largest provider in the East of England of undergraduates employed in the health and social work sector, and one of the UK’s leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with more than 1,000 employers nationally.