<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>May 18, 2009
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>More taking CFA exams <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Diana Othman
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Chen Jianwen, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) holder and National University of Singapore (NUS) business administration undergraduate. He already has three years of experience helping to manage his family wealth all at the age of 23. -- PHOTO: BT
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A RECORD number of banking and investment professionals are taking the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exams in June, unfazed by the massive layoffs and insecurity in the still shaky financial markets around the world.
Some 128,600 people from 154 countries have registered for the CFA exams - up from 118,500 last year. Of those who signed up this year, 7,700 are from Singapore, according to the CFA Institute, an international organisation based in the US.
A CFA is already mandatory for most senior equity analysts and is increasingly required for fixed income and investment analysts.
Exams are held in June and December every year and candidates acquire the CFA charter when they successfully complete the programme.
'During this time of great uncertainty in financial markets, it is critical that the global investment profession upholds what all CFA charter-holders hold true: ethics, rigor, tenacity, and analytics,' said Mr John Rogers, president and chief executive officer of the institute.
Mr Bob Johnson, senior managing director of the institute agreed.
'Now more than ever, we need well trained, ethically centered investment professionals operating in the financial markets,' he said.
'Because those in the CFA Program learn the fundamentals of the investment decision-making process and are required to demonstrate their ability to put them into practice, candidates and current CFA charter-holders have the experience and commitment to move the global economy forward.'
Registrations in the programme have been steadily rising at 16 per cent annually, while the yearly institute's membership has been going up by 9 per cent since 1990.
The CFA examination is considered to be the investment profession's most rigorous credentialing programme.
It takes an average of four years for a candidate to complete the self-study programme and examinations, with three levels of questions to clear such as multiple choice, case studies and essays.
Mr Johnson also said the institute is expecting continued success. 'CFA candidates and charter-holders regularly tell me that when looking for a new job or working with potential and current clients, the CFA designation distinguishes them from those without the charter,' he said.
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>More taking CFA exams <!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Diana Othman
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
Chen Jianwen, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) holder and National University of Singapore (NUS) business administration undergraduate. He already has three years of experience helping to manage his family wealth all at the age of 23. -- PHOTO: BT
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->
A RECORD number of banking and investment professionals are taking the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exams in June, unfazed by the massive layoffs and insecurity in the still shaky financial markets around the world.
Some 128,600 people from 154 countries have registered for the CFA exams - up from 118,500 last year. Of those who signed up this year, 7,700 are from Singapore, according to the CFA Institute, an international organisation based in the US.
A CFA is already mandatory for most senior equity analysts and is increasingly required for fixed income and investment analysts.
Exams are held in June and December every year and candidates acquire the CFA charter when they successfully complete the programme.
'During this time of great uncertainty in financial markets, it is critical that the global investment profession upholds what all CFA charter-holders hold true: ethics, rigor, tenacity, and analytics,' said Mr John Rogers, president and chief executive officer of the institute.
Mr Bob Johnson, senior managing director of the institute agreed.
'Now more than ever, we need well trained, ethically centered investment professionals operating in the financial markets,' he said.
'Because those in the CFA Program learn the fundamentals of the investment decision-making process and are required to demonstrate their ability to put them into practice, candidates and current CFA charter-holders have the experience and commitment to move the global economy forward.'
Registrations in the programme have been steadily rising at 16 per cent annually, while the yearly institute's membership has been going up by 9 per cent since 1990.
The CFA examination is considered to be the investment profession's most rigorous credentialing programme.
It takes an average of four years for a candidate to complete the self-study programme and examinations, with three levels of questions to clear such as multiple choice, case studies and essays.
Mr Johnson also said the institute is expecting continued success. 'CFA candidates and charter-holders regularly tell me that when looking for a new job or working with potential and current clients, the CFA designation distinguishes them from those without the charter,' he said.
