(NewsUSA) - The results are in for CME Group’s 20th Annual University Trading Challenge! Universidad De Guadalajara takes first place this year, marking the fourth consecutive year a team from Latin America has won first place and the second consecutive year a team from Mexico has earned top honors.

This year’s challenge brought over 400 teams across 156 universities, representing 24 countries - a testament to strong interest in the role of derivatives around the world.

Throughout the competition, both graduate and undergraduate students learn hands-on techniques for trading agriculture, energy, metals, equity indices, interest rates and foreign exchange futures contracts through CQG, a real-time simulated electronic trading platform.

"We congratulate the students from around the world who participated in our 20th CME Group University Trading Challenge,” said Anita Liskey, CME Group Senior Managing Director of Global Brand Marketing and Communications. “In today's uncertain global economy, risk management is more important than ever, and CME Group’s University Trading Challenge provides the next generation of traders and risk managers with a unique, hands-on experience to explore the world of trading and build the skills they need for future careers in finance."

Eligible winners will receive cash prizes. All participants in this year’s Trading Challenge will be invited to attend an exclusive one-day, in-person market education event.

As the world’s leading derivatives marketplace, CME Group provides a wide array of risk management education services, tools and resources for learners of all levels to immerse themselves into the world of derivatives.

CME Group is committed to educating the next generation of finance professionals of the significance of its global derivatives market and risk management. CME Group also partners with other industry organizations to offer education tools such as Futures Fundamentals, a one-stop educational resource for “Futures 101.”

Photo caption: Steffany Trinidad Razo Diaz and her professor Luis Nicolau accepting the first-place certificates for the team from Universidad de Guadalajara at the Day of Market Education dinner.