GMNet launches VstoX Colombo Bourse simulator - Daily FT

http://www.ft.lk/2012/08/21/gmnet-launches-vstox-colombo-bourse-simulator/

Global Media Networks Ltd. (GMNet) has unveiled a Colombo Stock Exchange-based free game simulator VstoX Colombo Virtual Exchange (www.vstox.com) with a view of introducing a virtual simulation to investors on the Colombo Bourse’s activities for the first time in Sri Lanka.

Game Website: http://www.vstox.com

VstoX integrates the real life order placement system, commonly known as ATS (Automated Trading System) at Colombo Stock Exchange and backup operations of the Central Depository System popularly known as CDS; all into one great financial software. VStox also has successfully integrated the cash and bank account management of the investors, making it a close to real life financial management tool for stock market investors.

VstoX is a stock market simulation game for the Sri Lanka stock market, built for the very highest level of reality. It is incredibly close to real life trading, yet remarkably simple to understand the activities at the Colombo Bourse. VstoX is a software developed by Global Media Networks Ltd. in collaboration with Allion Technologies Ltd. leading software development company based in Sri Lanka.

“We believe this would be an ideal tool to learn the Colombo Stock Market activities for anyone before starting trading real on Sri Lankan company stocks. Besides this tool enables an investor to decide how a portfolio of their own could be built or lost and to be a wise investor who could gain a higher return,” said Lyanne Kao, Director Global Media Networks.

“There have been many game simulators built based on Wall Street trading but we wanted to create something that would encourage traders to get in to our own Colombo Stock Exchange, VstoX is the first step to take the Colombo Stock market to the next level of development.”

“This step is likely to introduce the stock market investments to the student population of the country – the next booming investor generation of the island nation,” she added.

The objective of the game is to educate and assist the investors to manage and experience varying risk, return scenarios of the capital markets. Apart from the standard order execution, the other most interesting feature of the game is the management of cash and assets. This feature allows investors to manage funds between equity and fixed income investments and change their investment strategies to suit different economic situations.

Investors can borrow or deposit money in the bank at prevailing real life interest rates and adopt their own preferred risk profile. The reports, charts and graphs available in the game are a total game changer for the investors, which allow investors to compare and contrast their performance with fellow players, real indices and the real market.

“In this game any investor could learn how to be a billionaire or lose all their investments and start again from the scratch. No other game comes closer to this type of reality. This is without a doubt the very best stock market simulation game available in Sri Lanka,” said Jit Wijayapura, Director GMNet, adding that the main game offers a free grant of Rs. 10 million virtual cash for each player at the time of joining the game.  “Thereafter it is up to the investors to manage their virtual investment portfolios efficiently and diligently and maximise profits, just the same way they would manage their real life share portfolios. VstoX help investors to build a portfolio of their own so that they could learn and experience the real life trading in Colombo Stocks without the risk of losing their hard-earned money,” he further added.

VstoX has received accolades and positive response from many sections of the business communities. These include fund managers, stock brokers, investors and students.

“VstoX is a great tool, especially at a time when investors are confused about the direction of the stock market. This game will assist investors to simulate various trading strategies before implementing them in the market. Practice always makes you perfect. I have no hesitation in recommending this to my clients and fellow brokers,” said Dinusha Gomes, Manager Foreign Sales at LOLC Securities.

“This is a whole new experience to me. I can now learn about the stock market and learn how to invest money during my free time. Since the game hours do not clash with my school hours, it will not affect my studies, but rather it will help me to succeed in my business subjects. One day I want to become a fund manager. This game is sure to give me a great start,” said Eguavoen Bright, a student from the American College.

“I was new to the stock market and always had to depend on what other people said. Sometime the advice was good, but not always. I eventually lost all my money and got caught to many unethical practices of others. Now I don’t need to worry about these things or depend on others for their ill-advice and improper guidance.  With VstoX now I can learn to invest in the stock market before I put my real money into the market,” said Pradeep Kumara, an investor from Ambalangoda.

“This software focuses on the features that matter most to investors. It takes into consideration all capital market activities and gives the accurate end result to the respective output in terms of dividends, rights, bonuses, splits, etc., just like the Central Depository System does in the real market.” “VstoX simple order execution system allows you to buy and sell shares based on daily market prices limited to actually traded quantities, just like the way you do it in the real market. You can subscribe for warrants, rights or even to a recently announced IPO. In VstoX, all the stock market conditions are real, it’s only the money that is virtual,” said Arjuna Pathirana, Senior Software Architect of Allion Technologies said.

“To create it, we rigorously question the ways in which investors and stock market react to various macro economic factors. This made us include a separate area for latest news feeds from leading business websites and discussion forums to provide real life information relating to investments to help investors to take well informed investment decisions.  VstoX is a game that can help even a layman to master stock market within minutes,” Pathirana added.