FE Report
A record number of aspirants from different nations, including Bangladesh, have registered to sit CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) exams tomorrow.
As many as 227,031 candidates have registered for level I, II and III exams of CFA at 286 test centers in 91 countries and territories.
CFA Institute, the global association of investment management professionals, made the announcement on Thursday.
Tomorrow’s exams mark the 55th anniversary of the first CFA exam held in June 1963, a statement said.
More than 400 local candidates will take the test at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
On completion of level III exam, someone having four-year experience in fields like portfolio management is considered CFA charterholder.
The three-level self-study programme covers topics, including ethical and professional standards, quantitative methods, economics, financial reporting and analysis.
Corporate finance, equity investments, fixed income, derivatives, alternative investments, and portfolio management and wealth planning are also included in the topics.
More than 154,000 charterholders work in prominent firms like JP Morgan Chase, UBS, RBC, Bank of America ML, HSBC, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, BlackRock, Credit Suisse and State Street.
CFA Institute made a humble beginning in 1963 while administering the exam to 284 candidates, said Paul Smith, CFA, president and CEO, CFA Institute.
"CFA Institute has grown dramatically around the world in pursuit of its mission," he stated.
Bangladesh has some 80 CFA charterholders working in different banks, asset management companies and financial institutions.
The Asia-Pacific region has generated the highest number of candidates, with 120,436 registered for the exam, meaning 53 percent of the total.
China has led the growth in the region with a 48 percent rise in candidates compared to June 2017.
It was followed by Australia at 36 percent growth and India at 30 percent.
In Bangladesh, the number of CFA candidates has grown by about 30 per cent in 2018.
"I'm very happy that the number of CFA candidates in Bangladesh is growing fast," said Shahidul Islam, CFA, president of CFA Society Bangladesh.
He said CFA charterholders can contribute to economic growth by helping Bangladesh develop a financial market that serves best the interests of the savers and investors.
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