As our trading game returns, who can beat White Van Man?

Jun 17 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

HUNDREDS of would-be traders are expected to descend into the bear pit of the trading room floor next week, armed with their £100,000 war chests.

Next Wednesday sees the return of our hugely popular fantasy trading game Taking Stock, which allows you to use virtual money to trade real stocks and shares for the chance to win prizes – as well as bragging rights over your colleagues.

Last time out almost 700 people joined the game on The Journal’s business website, nebusiness.co.uk, while several North East businesses created their own in-house mini-league.

On June 24, players will once again prepare to do battle until the end of the game on August 21. In the first Taking Stock competition John Bottomley, pictured, who runs the Bathroom Studio shop in Birtley, Gateshead, and played the game under the moniker White Van Man, received a luxury stay at Matfen Hall and £500 in cash after turning his initial £100,000 virtual stake into more than £800,000.

This time the player with the biggest portfolio will again receive £500, courtesy of stockbrokers Brewin Dolphin, as well as a luxury break for two.

Mr Bottomley yesterday had a guided tour of the Newcastle offices of game sponsor Brewin Dolphin, including a visit to the trading floor where stocks and shares are dealt for real.

Brewin business development and marketing director John Duns, who showed Mr Bottomley around the premises, joked that the company had been tempted to offer the Taking Stock champion a job. Mr Bottomley admitted that playing the game became something of an obsession. “I was up until all hours at night and then again first thing in the morning.

“I treated it as seriously as if it was my job,” he said. “You have to keep an eye on America and see what is happening, especially to the bank shares, over there.”

Taking Stock was designed by Newcastle technology firm Scott Logic.

New players can join up on www.nebusiness.co.uk until two weeks before the end of the game on August 21.