Global Investor

The Finance Lab simulation is designed for KS4/5 and FE students

The simulation delivers both sides of the investing process - research and trading – in one immersive, dual-screen simulation.

Players work together on two linked screens in the roles of Investment Analyst and Media Analyst in a simulated dealing room, testing and developing their skills in a time-pressured environment.

Teams compete to increase the value of their fund by trading in company shares and commodities, navigating the fluctuations of global equity and commodity markets.

The listed multinational companies are based in different parts of the world, with each operating in a different sector of the economy. Cotton, oil and wheat are also traded on the market.

This fast-moving and exciting business game tests many of the skills necessary for working life, including team-working, problem-solving and critical thinking.

Each team's investment decisions will be based on both the analysis of market data and the interpretation of news stories. Players need to think on their feet and respond quickly to new information in order to profit from the potential impact on prices.

Prices are affected both by the impact of investors’ decisions and information in the news.  Students need to assess whether a story about a particular company, commodity or sector will have a positive or negative effect on market confidence and prices.

The simulation supports Business Studies, Economics and Applied Maths teaching.

Students learn the language of the financial markets and the business media, how equity and commodity markets function, the concept of shares and investments, the effect of supply and demand on markets and the impact of news and information on share prices. 

All the game data can be extracted for analysis to allow the application of economic principles and mathematical methods in a range of contexts.    

Students are required to use their judgement in identifying and interpreting key information.  They are offered a challenging way of testing and developing a range of skills in a work-relevant context:

• to communicate, manage information and use numbers;
• to think and solve problems;
• the demonstration of positive attitudes and behaviours;
• to learn responsibly, work with others and participate in projects and tasks.

Dealing Room is designed to make finance and investing accessible for younger students.

Its experiential approach enables students to test their Maths ability in a real-world setting, and develop their key skills under the pressure of competition.

Students, working in teams, invest in 10 companies based on information they receive from text and video news feeds. The aim of the game is to maximise the value of the team's starting fund and achieve consistently good investment returns.

The two aspects of the trading process - researching and investing - are brought together in one simulated game environment.  The role of Investment Analyst tests numeracy and financial maths, while the Media Analyst’s analysis of the news requires good literacy and comprehension skills.

Research the market, anticipate price changes, interpret market data and manage your fund.

The dynamic, responsive elements of the game make for a genuinely interactive experience, and provide an opportunity for students to apply and develop their maths and business skills.

Prices are affected both by the information in the news and by the players' investment decisions. As players navigate the fluctuations of the market, they must work together as a team with the objective of increasing the value of their fund.

Dealing Room is provided with Maths learning resources, so students can apply what they have learned in the game:

The resources include lesson presentations and student worksheets. They cover a range of KS3 topics, including probability, statistics, graphs and charts, fractions, percentages and decimals.apply mathematical techniques to real-world situations to help students:

• increase their confidence in handling data
• understand financial mathematics
• interpret and communicate statistical information