What is Country Pick?

“Country Pick” is an online game which provides those who would like to participate the opportunity to simulate managing money, at no charge. (Participation is subject to the Participant Agreement and your registration constitutes your acceptance and agreements to the Participant Agreement.)

Participants compete through management of a virtual portfolio worth initially US $10 million and by investing this amount in virtual index funds linked to the equity markets of countries and regions in the investment universe. Participants build a simulated portfolio not by selecting individual stocks in each country, but by simply choosing countries and regions to invest in and setting the weighting for each. This makes it easier for those who have limited experience in managing equity investments to take part.

Those participants who are ranked in the top three after a year will be recognized as Country Pick Yearly Champions, while those who are ranked in the top three for each quarter will be recognized as Country Pick Quarterly Champions.

Why you should participate in Country Pick

1. It's free!

There are no fees to participate. While there are no cash prizes, you may be named as a Country Pick Yearly or Quarterly Champion.

2. You can experience investing in diversified international assets - the abc’s of asset management!

You can simulate investment in 31 countries and regions. Participants make their own selections (put together into a “portfolio”) of several countries and regions. The future of your portfolio depends on how well you choose the countries and regions to invest in and the weighting that you give to each.

Note: “Countries and regions” mentioned here are virtual index funds that are linked to the equity market of each country and region.

3. It will allow you to learn about various countries and regions, and see how their stock prices move!

　

4. Building a portfolio is easy – even for beginners!

We have prepared several model portfolios, including a developed countries portfolio, a natural resource-rich countries portfolio, an emerging countries portfolio, and a “Soccer Powerhouse” portfolio. If you are a novice investor, you may want to make use of these model portfolios as a starting point when composing your own portfolio. (Nikko Asset Management does not endorse any of these model portfolios, either in terms of building a winning portfolio for the purposes of this contest, or for making real investments. They are offered only as samples to help you get started.)

5. The ideas of top performers may even be used in actual products!

In addition, participants who finish as the top investment performers for the year and those otherwise deemed by Nikko Asset Management as the all-round top performers may be asked to interview for the position of “Product Development Advisor”. Potential candidates will be evaluated on quantitative criteria, such as whether or not excessive risk was taken to achieve the investment result, and qualitative criteria, such as the consistency of their investment philosophy, its durability, and the ability to replicate their investment strategy in practice. While candidates deemed eligible will be invited to an interview, other criteria, such as age restrictions, may apply. Nikko Asset Management plans to ask those chosen as Product Development Advisors to advise on new funds to be created in 2011. Advisors will be paid a salary appropriate to their position. However, taking all investment performances and strategies into account, Nikko Asset Management may deem that there are no eligible candidates.

6. You can measure how well you’re doing through various rankings.

In addition to the overall ranking of all participants, you can gauge your performance through other rankings, such as rankings for the entire year, or by quarter.