Fullerton and SGX launch equities challenge to boost financial literacy among students

Fullerton Fund Management (Fullerton), in collaboration with SGX Group, launched the Fullerton / SGX Value-Up Singapore Equities Challenge (The Challenge), a new initiative designed to help tertiary students in Singapore experience what real-world investing looks like – from research and stock selection to presenting investment ideas to industry professionals.

The Challenge gives students a practical, hands-on pathway into Singapore’s equities market at a time when interest in long-term investing is growing. With up to SGD 18,000 ($13,927) in cash prizes, access to industry mentors, and the chance to be fast-tracked for internship opportunities at Fullerton, the Challenge is designed to open doors for young investors and help them build confidence in navigating the market.

The Challenge will run over a six-week online trading period from 26 January to 6 March 2026 on InvestSG, a Singapore market focused community platform, during which student teams construct and manage portfolios of Singapore-listed securities. The top six teams will advance to an in-person stock pitch challenge held at SGX Centre on 2 April 2026, where they will present their investment theses to a panel of judges from SGX Group, Fullerton, Temasek, and IMAS. Cash prizes of $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000 will be awarded to the top three teams.

This initiative is also launched against the backdrop of broader stock market reforms. The Equity Market Development Programme (EQDP), one of the key measures announced by the Equities Market Review Group, aims to strengthen the local asset management and research ecosystems and increase investor interest in Singapore’s equities market. SGX RegCo has also introduced regulatory changes that shift the market towards a more disclosure-based approach, which is designed to improve listing efficiency and enhance the role of market discipline in capital allocation.

For students, the Challenge brings these developments to life. Instead of learning about markets from textbooks, participants will now get to step inside the ecosystem, research companies, analyse market drivers and understand how local businesses create value.

Through the Challenge, students will be able to:

• Develop habits of research, deepen analysis, and introduce fundamentals-based investing that support informed decision-making;
• Receive feedback on their investment ideas from the judging panel during the in-person pitch finals (for shortlisted teams); and
• Gain visibility of opportunities within Singapore’s equities landscape and evaluate local companies from a broader and long-term perspective

In addition, the Challenge provides a structured assessment pathway for internship selection. Of the 24 finalists, up to 10 participants will be shortlisted for a half day assessment at Fullerton. The assessment is designed as a focused evaluation for internship selection, allowing Fullerton to identify participants with strong potential for the internship roles available. Up to five internship offers will then be extended on individual merit. The internship also serves as a pathway to potential permanent placements as research analysts, subject to internship performance.

Jenny Sofian, CEO of Fullerton Fund Management, said: “Fullerton remains deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of investment talent. With our strong local parentage and decades of experience in Singapore’s equities market, we are well-positioned to give young investors meaningful insights into the opportunities shaping our home market. Through this Challenge and our internship programme, we are proud to offer tertiary students hands-on exposure to the asset management industry and play our part to develop emerging talent for Singapore’s financial sector.”

Ng Yao Loong, head of equities, SGX Group said: “Partnering Fullerton on this initiative is a great opportunity to spark genuine interest in the Singapore stock market among young people. We are excited because this initiative allows participants to step into the real world of investing. It’s a hands-on way to experience how Singapore’s stock market actually works, not from a textbook but from inside the ecosystem. For anyone curious about markets, this is a chance to build confidence and see why investing in the Singapore stock market can be dynamic and full of possibilities.”

Re-disseminated by Wealth and Society