THE RULES

Jun 24 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

Are you ready to go back into the bear pit? Andrew Mernin previews the return of our hugely popular fantasy trading game, Taking Stock

TODAY the doors swing open once again to the fantasy stock market trading floor. Armed with a virtual £100,000 to invest, would-be traders across the region will analyse the fluctuating fortunes of listed businesses large and small as they consider their purchases carefully.

The Taking Stock game 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.

Today battle will commence for a second time, and players will vie for places at the top – and bottom – of the league for prizes and pride.

Last time out John Bottomley, who runs the Bathroom Studio Birtley, Gateshead, and played the game under the trading name of White Van Man, won 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 at Seaham Hall, County Durham.

Players who took part last time will receive an email giving them the option of being re-entered into the new game, with their portfolios being reset back to £100,000. Meanwhile, new players can join up on nebusiness.co.uk until two weeks before the end of the game on August 21.

We will publish regular updates on the game in The Journal’s business section and you can constantly monitor your performance by logging into the game via nebusiness.co.uk.

Large, medium and the North 40 companies are all on the game waiting for your investment and you can even pinpoint exactly where to put your money through a wealth of analysis tools and graphs.

Prices are based on live prices with a 15-minute delay. However, those insiders with access to up-to-the-minute prices will not be allowed to cheat as you can not sell anything on the same day you bought it.

The game’s creators – Newcastle technology firm Scott Logic – will also monitor trading activity for any other unusual behaviour which may suggest underhand tactics. The Journal’s business editor Iain Laing said he expected the second Taking Stock competition to be even more popular than the first.

He said: “The game became an extraordinary success very soon after its launch the first time with players across the country and leagues set up at companies eager to show off their trading skills.

“It is a very compelling way to see how good you are at making money on the stock markets and it really brought out a good natured competitive spirit among players.

“At a time when there is so much bad news for the economy and a little suspicion of those making a lot of money in the City, it is a great way for people to get involved in stock market speculation without the risk of losing any real cash, but with the chance of winning a very fine prize.”

THE game starts with each competitor having £100,000 in virtual cash.

Each share trade involves a transaction fee and stamp duty cost that is deducted from the player's account.

Shares can be bought and sold from the list of mid and large-cap companies on the London Stock Exchange as well as the constituents of the North Index.

Shares can be traded only between 8.15am and 4.45pm on weekdays. Stock prices are based on a 15-minute delayed feed from the London Stock Exchange.

A competitor is not allowed to go overdrawn in his or her account. Shares must be held for at least one night, ie shares cannot be sold on the day they were bought.

If a player buys additional shares in a stock he/she already holds, they will be prevented from selling any shares in that company until the following day.

A player must make a minimum of one purchase to be eligible for the competition.

Trading begins when the markets open at 8.15am on Wednesday, June 24.

Entry to the competition will close at 5pm on Friday, August 7, 2009.

The winner is the individual with the greatest wealth (share portfolio plus virtual cash) at 5pm on Friday, August 21, 2009. Virtual cash has no monetary value.

Prize at Seaham Hall must be taken Sunday to Thursday and includes bed and breakfast, and dinner on one night.

Standard Trinity Mirror plc rules apply, available atwww.journallive.co.uk/legal.