20 Mar 2025
Recently, International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) and the University of Liverpool Management School (ULMS) launched the ULMS-IBSS Business Forecasting Championships 2025, an exclusive academic competition designed to enhance students' skills in financial forecasting, market analysis, and strategic decision-making. This year’s competition, which runs from March 10 to April 21, 2025, brings together Year 2 students from IBSS to compete in teams of 3-5 members. Participants will analyze and forecast the stock price of a company listed on the FTSE 100 Index, one of the most prestigious stock indices in the world. Over the course of six weeks, students will engage in a series of forecasting phases, refining their predictions based on market trends, economic conditions, and industry-specific factors.
The competition is divided into three key phases. In Phase 1: Initial Forecast, teams submit their first stock price forecast for Week 6, along with a one-page justification based on their initial analysis. In Phase 2: Revised Forecast, teams update their forecast, taking into account recent market developments, industry changes, and financial data. Finally, in Phase 3: Final Forecast & Up/Down Prediction, teams make their final stock price prediction and provide a directional forecast (up or down) for the last week of the competition.
The competition officially began with an online Kickoff Meeting on March 6, 2025, hosted by ULMS via Zoom. The session featured welcoming remarks from Dr Linjia Zhang, Associate Professor of Economics from IBSS, followed by Dr Ahmed Al-Abdin, Deputy Associate Dean – International from ULMS and Dr Gareth Liu-Evans, Lecturer in Econometrics from ULMS, who introduced students to the University of Liverpool Management School and its collaboration with IBSS. Dr Xie Li, Associate Professor of Finance and Dr Yihan Li, Assistant Professor of Finance from IBSS also participated, engaging with students and providing valuable insights. During the session, the competition's structure, expectations, and evaluation criteria were explained in detail. ULMS faculty also shared insights into the academic culture, research expertise, and global engagement opportunities available at ULMS, inspiring students to leverage this international collaboration for their academic and career growth.
To ensure students were well-prepared for the competition, IBSS organized a hands-on Training Session on March 12, 2025, at the IBSS Trading Floor Led by Dr. Linjia Zhang, Dr. Li Xie, and Dr. Yihan Li, with technical support from Ziqian Xu, IBSS Lab Technician. The session introduced students to Refinitiv Eikon, one of the most powerful data platforms for real-time market analysis, macroeconomic trends, and stock valuation. Students learned how to access and interpret financial data for FTSE 100 companies, use advanced analytical tools for stock performance tracking, and leverage macroeconomic indicators to enhance forecasting accuracy. This session provided students with the technical skills and analytical tools necessary to make data-driven predictions and refine their investment strategies throughout the competition.
As the competition progresses, students will continue to refine their forecasts based on market developments and industry trends. The final phase submission is scheduled for April 14, 2025, and the winning teams will be announced in early May.
Dr Linjia Zhang commented, "This competition is a fantastic opportunity for students to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world financial scenarios. It not only enhances their analytical skills but also fosters collaboration and strategic thinking, which are essential for their future careers."
Dr Ahmed Al-Abdin added, "We are thrilled to collaborate with IBSS on this initiative. The competition not only strengthens our partnership but also provides students with a unique platform to develop their forecasting and decision-making skills in a global context."
20 Mar 2025