Nikko Asset Management (Nikko AM), a Japan-based asset management company, has released the US version of Country Pick , a money management game, following its release in Japan. Nikko AM has developed Country Pick to allow participants test their money management skills.
Participants are allotted a virtual amount of $10m and they build a portfolio by selecting from an investment universe of 31 countries and regions. After setting an investment weighting for each selected country, participants compete based on their portfolios’ performance. The competition starts in January 2010 and takes place over a full year.
Participants do not invest in individual stocks. They need only to pick the country or region they wish to invest in from the investment universe. These countries and regions actually represent virtual index funds linked to the stock market of each. Country Pick therefore also offers participants the opportunity to experience investing through global asset allocation.
Nikko AM said that Country Pick has already received over 3,000 entries in Japan since October 20. It claimed that top overall performers will be offered an interview for the position of product development advisor of the US.
