ARU Business students are European Champions
$438k profit sees Team Alpha triumph in 2025 Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge
The Bloomberg Financial Markets Lab at ARU
A team of students from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) have been named European champions in the prestigious Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge, an international investment competition that attracts thousands of participants from around the world.
Competing against more than 2,700 teams from 57 countries, ARU’s Team Alpha not only secured the top spot in Europe but also ranked sixth in the world, showcasing exceptional skill and strategy in one of the most competitive student trading events worldwide.
The five-week challenge sees student teams use Bloomberg Terminals – the same technology relied upon by professional traders – to build and manage a simulated investment portfolio. The students analysed real-time market data, developed trading strategies, and adjusted their portfolios as markets moved, helping them build practical financial skills, teamwork and data-driven decision-making.
This year’s competition was the largest to date and, under the guidance of Dr Minh Nguyen, students took advantage of the bespoke facilities at ARU’s bespoke Bloomberg Financial Markets Lab.
Given a starting budget of $1 million, Team Alpha, made up of MSc International Business with Business Analytics students Haseeb Ahmed, Sahana Gangappa Thippeswamy, Nandhini Jaiganesh, Nikhil Aedulla and Hasibub-Ul-Hasan Susmoy, achieved a profit of $438,846.
“We worked incredibly hard as a team, using data-driven strategies and real-time market analysis to refine our portfolio each week. Winning first place in Europe and placing sixth globally is something we’re truly proud of. Along the way, we learned how to make decisions under pressure and manage risk more realistically. We’re especially grateful to Dr Minh Nguyen, whose guidance helped us stay disciplined, focused, and confident throughout the challenge.”
Haseeb Ahmed, captain of Team Alpha
“Their success reflects their talent and commitment, and the strength of our Bloomberg-based teaching, which helps them apply theory to real markets. This is fantastic for the students’ CVs and they have a bright future ahead of them.”
Dr Minh Nguyen, Lecturer in Accounting and Finance at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)The Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and the fast-paced world of global finance. By engaging with real market data and professional tools, students gain invaluable insights into investment strategies and risk management – skills that are highly sought after by employers in the financial sector.