Toronto CFA Society names Ontario university finalists for the CFA Institute Research Challenge

Equity research competition hones practical skills and harnesses industry know-how to give business and finance students a career edge

TORONTO, Feb. 8, 2012 /CNW/ - Toronto CFA Society has selected four teams from Ontario universities as finalists for the annual CFA Institute Research Challenge, an equity research competition among student teams from the world's top university business and finance programs.

Student teams from the following universities will present their research and analysis of the subject company, Onex Corporation, to a panel of judges in Toronto on March 1, 2012, at the BMO Customer Care Centre:

• Schulich School of Business, York University
• University of Toronto, Scarborough
• University of Waterloo
• Wilfrid Laurier University

The CFA Institute Research Challenge offers students the unique opportunity to develop and present an equity research report and compete on a global basis. The competition spans one academic year and involves analyzing a public company (selected by Toronto CFA Society) and presenting the research. Each team works with a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) charterholder who mentors the team during the research process and reviews and critiques its report.

This annual educational initiative is designed to promote best practices in equity research among the next generation of analysts through hands-on mentoring and intensive training in company analysis and presentation skills.

"Students looking to enter the financial and investment industries need to hone hard and soft skills to be successful, particularly in competitive financial centres such as Toronto," said Peter S. Jarvis, CFA, Executive Director of Toronto CFA Society. "This competition gives tomorrow's young professionals an edge with hands-on experience evaluating operating businesses, advice from industry mentors, and a chance to improve communication skills." Mr. Jarvis added that Toronto CFA Society's involvement fits with its commitment to education supporting investment and financial professionals.

Local CFA societies, including Toronto CFA Society, together with CFA Institute, hold local competitions involving teams of three to five business and finance students from participating universities who work directly with a local company and a mentor. The winning team will be determined based on the quality of its written analysis and presentation. This team will qualify for the regional North American competition to be held in New York City on April 10, 2012. The regional winner will advance to the global final in New York City on April 11, 2012.

More than 2,500 students from 546 universities around the world participated in the 2010-2011 competition, according to CFA Institute. The competition involved 79 CFA Local Level Challenges hosted by 102 local CFA societies. Over 1,200 industry volunteers worked directly with student teams..For more information on the challenge, see www.researchchallenge.org.

About Toronto CFA Society
Toronto CFA Society is a not-for-profit organization supporting the professional and business development of CFA charterholders.  The society provides members with a local perspective on a global designation including: educational programs, sponsored events, job postings, quarterly newsletters, a comprehensive affinity program and networking opportunities.

The society celebrated its 75^th anniversary in 2011 and is affiliated with CFA Institute, the global body that administers the Chartered Financial Analyst curriculum and sets voluntary, ethics-based performance-reporting standards for the investment industry.  With over 7,500 members, Toronto CFA Society is the second largest of the 135 CFA societies operating in the world.  Our members are leaders in ethics within the financial community.  For more information, please refer to www.torontocfa.ca.

About CFA Institute
CFA Institute is the global association for investment professionals. It administers the CFA and CIPM curriculum and exam programs worldwide; publishes research; conducts professional development programs; and sets voluntary, ethics-based professional and performance-reporting standards for the investment industry. CFA Institute has more than 107,000 members, who include the world's 98,000 CFA charterholders, in 133 countries and territories, as well as 135 affiliated professional societies in 58 countries and territories. More information may be found at www.cfainstitute.org.

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

Media contact:

Carol Dunsmore
Toronto CFA Society
Phone: [phone]
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