Stock Market Simulation Project –
Module at FOM University of Applied Sciences

Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Alexander Zureck. Develop a strategy, implement it with CapTrader, and present the results in a well-founded manner.

🎓 Introduction

Dear Students

Here you will find additional learning material for the module “Stock Market Simulation Game”. It helps you to better understand the content – and to successfully master the assessment.

The module is more than just theory: Together with my colleagues Eric Frère, Ilja Schaab, and Jan Heyder , we have developed it over the years – by FOM graduates for FOM students. With gamification, learning comes alive: Theory is directly applied in practical exercises.

– Prof. Dr. Alexander Zureck

A Look Behind the Scenes

🎯 Objective of the module

In the stock market simulation game, students develop their own trading strategy in groups, implement it using the CapTrader trading platform, and scientifically analyze the results. Topics covered include strategies (Daytrading, Swing, Value, Dividends), theory (Markowitz, Fama, Tversky/Kahneman), and biases (Home Bias, Overconfidence, Herding). Modern tools such as CapTrader, TradingView, and Morning Briefing can be used.

🎓 Examination performance

Group Presentation (no video work)

4 milestones lead to the final presentation (January/February). Presentations can either be held live or uploaded as a video (PDF upload of slides after the presentation, 1 upload per group). Registration via the online campus.

  • Group names: choose a European city
  • Appointment slots: January/February (2 × 4 teaching units)
  • Upload: final PDF after the presentation

Milestones

  1. Persona: Investor Profile (Profession, Income, Time Budget, Risk Appetite, Time Horizon)
  2. Strategy: Day Trading / Swing / Value / Dividends (Justification & Literature Reference)
  3. Implementation: Execute & document trades/investments on CapTrader
  4. Reflection: Results vs. Assumptions, Theoretical Linkage (Markowitz, Fama, Tversky/Kahneman), Biases

The goal is the comparable implementation (CapTrader usage) and reflective classification using portfolio theory & behavioral finance.

📅 Organization & Support

Organization

  • Group Size: max. 5 students
  • Registration for the exam: Online Campus (Please observe deadlines)
  • Communication: exclusively via @fom-net.de

❗Missed deadlines → Retake the module next semester.

Office Hours / Group Appointments

If you get stuck, book a consultation by clicking the button.

  • Individual group appointments via Calendly (up to 5 participants per slot).
  • Important: Do not pass on the link – please have all group members register themselves. Exchange between groups is encouraged.

🖥️ Presentation

Layout & Style

Goal: clean, fact-based, easy to read – as with IR decks of large corporations.

  • Light background, dark font (uniform requirement)
  • Tools allowed: PowerPoint, Keynote, Canva, Google Slides
  • Inspiration: Investor Relations slides (e.g., BASF) or Bundesbank presentations
  • AI tools allowed (e.g., ChatGPT, Gamma AI) – content counts

Content (Guidelines)

  • Strategy Derivation & Delimitation (Day Trading/Swing/Value/Dividends)
  • Risk-Return Profile, Diversification (Markowitz)
  • Market Efficiency & Factors (Fama, possibly Fama-French)
  • Biases: Home Bias, Overconfidence, Herding (Tversky/Kahneman)
  • Transparent CapTrader Documentation (Comparability)