Financial Times has launched a new stock picking competition for subscribers, drawing significant interest with over 5,000 participants already registered. The game offers a £1,000 cash prize to the top performer after an 8-week trading period starting June 9th. This interactive competition aims to engage readers while testing investment strategies in a simulated market environment.

Participants must select at least five stocks with individual weightings between 5-25%. Players can trade freely throughout the competition but can only take long positions—short selling and penny stocks are prohibited. The game allows for creation of private leagues with friends or colleagues, adding a social competitive element to the financial challenge.

The competition challenges conventional investment wisdom, advising participants to ignore fundamental analysis. Finding "needle-in-haystack stocks" that yield massive returns is the key to winning, according to FT editors. While real-world investors typically follow diversified approaches, this game rewards contrarian thinking and aggressive stock selection strategies.