ScotiaMcLeod Direct Investing has launched this year’s Online Test Drive. This is the second year for the online investing contest.

Participants can manage a fantasy $100,000 investment portfolio and experience investing online in real time — buying stocks, mutual funds and options just like they would with a real account. This year’s simulation will be available in both English and French.

All participants who out-perform the S&P/TSX 60 Index during the program period will be eligible to win their choice of a new 2004 performance edition 300hp Volvo V70 R wagon or S60 R sports sedan. Additional prizes will be awarded on a random basis to participants regardless of their performance.

“The ScotiaMcLeod Direct Investing Online Test Drive focus is on learning. This year’s simulation is even better because it demonstrates many of the enhancements made to our online services including Morningstar mutual fund research, charting, real time alerts and a new screening tool for selecting bonds. The simulation also provides valuable educational materials including investment strategies, a comprehensive Learning Centre, and access to commentary from leading industry experts,” said Paul Davidson, director of marketing, ScotiaMcLeod Direct Investing.

Davidson added, “Unlike other trading simulations, we are not rewarding the person who builds the largest portfolio through risky investment strategies. We want to motivate investors to learn while promoting responsible investing principles. The Online Test Drive is a reliable testing ground for individuals to experience investing online without any risk before investing real dollars.”

Again this year, ScotiaMcLeod Direct Investing is offering a similar program to employees of Scotiabank to further enhance their personal investment knowledge and their effectiveness as a knowledgeable sales network.

“This program gives all employees access to a simulated online investing environment that not only highlights the client benefits of a ScotiaMcLeod Direct Investing account, such as research, but also allows them to better understand our online offerings from the client’s perspective,” said Davidson.

People interested in finding out more can log on to: www.scotiamcleoddirect.com/testdrive