Second place picks up new occupant

4/10/2007

A team from Sylvania s Arbor Hills Junior High moved into second place in The Blade s School Stock Contest, pushing a Woodmore High School team from Elmore out of the spot that it long held.

StokAH8 gained more than 5 percent last week as energy-related stocks, especially Peabody Energy Corp., helped push the value of the Arbor Hills team s imaginary portfolio to more than $45,000.

Before picking four stocks for the contest, students in the seventh grade computer applications class had discussed how gas prices surely would go up, helping the market performance of energy-related companies, said their teacher, Ross Deye.

We thought it might be a good idea to pick a couple of them, he said.

The Shibby team from Ottawa Lake s Whiteford High School remained in first place last week, with a portfolio valued at $47,022, up nearly 18 percent since the contest began.

Ninety-five teams are competing in the 16-week contest for a top prize of $250 for the winning team and $250 for the school. Second prize is $150 for the school and third is $100 for the school.

The teams, from 37 schools throughout northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, picked four stocks trading for at least $5 a share when the contest began Jan. 19, and a hypothetical stake of $40,000 was divided equally among the selections.

The team with the portfolio that gains the most by the close of trading on May 11 will win.

Two teams, MUNIBAG, from Luckey Elementary School, and SYLFRAC, from Sylvania s Franciscan Center, were up more than 7 percent last week.

Both benefitted by holding Jones Soda Co. and were among those deciding to change some picks halfway through the contest, said Matthew Faltys, vice president and director of portfolio management for Fifth Third Bank (Northwestern Ohio), a contest co-sponsor.

There were some pretty strong movers, he said.

Mr. Deye, whose students are competing in a similar contest among themselves, said StokAH8 members decided not to change any stock picks.

Mullet, from Elmore s Woodmore High, dropped from second to third place. The value of its portfolio was $44,775.

The contest also is co-sponsored by The Blade s Newspaper in Education program.

Contact Julie M. McKinnon at:jmckinnon@theblade.comor 419-724-6087.