Things are coming good at just the right time for the Bermuda Institute’s Investables team, who are sitting second in the KPMG Investment Challenge with just over one week remaining before the competition ends.

It represents an impressive turnaround for the team after they found themselves languishing at the bottom of the table in the early days of the six-month contest.

The Investables have grown their $100,000 portfolio by 10.6 per cent. At the end of March it was worth $110,603.38. Another Bermuda Institute team, Tradewins, are sitting at the top of the list, having stretched their lead with a portfolio now worth $119,139.20.

While catching up with the leaders now seems unlikely, the Investables are looking to maintain their runners-up status.

Team leader Tariq Basden, 16, said the group was looking to drop a stock that has been bringing down their portfolio, and added: “As long as we can keep our position we’ll be pleased.”

Twenty school teams are entered in the challenge and were each given an imaginary $100,000 in October to invest in the stock market. The competition ends on April 24.

At the end of March, the Investables were looking comfortable in second place, with a $1,000 gap separating them from the third-placed team, The Walking Stocks, from Berkeley Institute.

The Investables are all in the same accountancy class, and at least once a week discuss their portfolio and stock picks. Only one member of the team had taken part in the challenge before, for the others the world of stocks and shares was an all-new experience.

“We came into it with very little knowledge about stocks and how to invest,” said Mr Basden.

“We have learned more as we have gone along. At the beginning I don’t think we paid much attention. Then we saw how well the other teams were doing and we ‘woke up’ and decided it was time to start working together.”

Explaining how the team decides what to put in its stock portfolio, he said each of the team researches the stocks they consider worth buying, and then the group gets together to review the options before presenting them to their tutor Tanya Warner.

The process is democratic, with disagreements avoided by researching and taking a considered approach to the suggested stocks proposed by each member. To date, shares in the health field have proven to be winners for the Investables.

Each member of the Investables agreed the experience of being part of the stock investing team has been rewarding.

Jeremiah Fubler, 17, said: he was now paying more attention to the stock market. “You never know the outcome you’ll see from a stock, so it can be a tricky situation,” he said.

Natisha Simmons, 18, said: “You have to watch stocks carefully, and if you see one falling it is better to get rid of it.”

She said she had enjoyed working as part of a small team with the other Investables’ members, adding: “Team work is always best.”

Cassie Simmons, 17, took part in the competition last year. She has also enjoyed the team aspect of the experience, and had learned that when it comes to stocks it is necessary to do background research and keep a close eye on what the stocks are doing.

Ginae Hypolite, 16, said: “It’s been a very good experience and being part of the team has been enjoyable. I did not know anything about stocks when I came to this challenge.”

For team leader Mr Basden it has been a worthwhile experience. He said: “I came into this with no experience and I’ve learned a lot from the last few months. I now have a better grasp of what is going on with stocks, and in the world.”

Ms Warner, the Bermuda Institute business manager, praised the attitude of the team.

“I’m very pleased with their hard work and progress, particularly as this is their first time in the competition,” she said.