Chung Shun LEUNG

BSc in Risk Management Science
LegendArb Financial Limited

Interning as a quantitative research analyst at LegendArb Financial Limited gave me a great opportunity to learn about finance and trading. Most importantly, I gained exposure to quantitative and algorithmic arbitrage trading. Throughout my time at the company, all of my colleagues, and especially my supervisor Mr Richard SHI, gave me a lot of support and guidance, which allowed me to learn and perform my tasks efficiently in a friendly working environment. They also gave me great insights into arbitrage trading.

I was assigned several tasks, such as data analysis, strategic trade research, algorithm improvement and database handling. I started by doing some paper-based research to gain inspiration for creating new trading strategies. Next, I began coding with Python to build and back-test an algorithm. Once a strategy has been shown to be profitable through a back-test and live simulation, it can be deployed in the real financial market.

During my five-month internship, I gained a lot of knowledge in several areas. In terms of data handling, I learned how to build a dataset for use when building or back-testing an algorithm, including ways of handling missing data. I also had the chance to apply my quantitative analysis and trading skills in real markets, such as using spreads or regression when viewing charts and hedging during trading. These fundamental trading techniques provide a basis for the more complicated trading techniques I will learn in the future.

In addition, I used several programming-related tools and languages during the internship. For example, Excel VBA, SQL, Python, C#, Tortoise and the Bloomberg Terminal enabled me to more effectively and efficiently build programming structures and analyse datasets in greater depth.

In sum, my internship at LegendArb was a fruitful experience. I learned a lot, and it gave me a good opportunity to apply in practice all of the knowledge I had gained at undergraduate level. It showed me that programming plays an important role in statistics, especially with the rise of big data and machine learning. Again, I am grateful to LegendArb and CUHK’s Department of Statistics for this internship opportunity and all of their help and support.

Ling POON

BSc in Risk Management Science
Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, Denmark

I am glad to have the opportunity to go to Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU) for a semester-long exchange, where I met people from diverse cultural background and learnt knowledge about statistics and computer science from top-tier teachers.

Academic-wise, during my exchange in Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, I focused on computer science and statistics courses, on topics that are practical and interesting to me, like machine learning, discrete mathematics and software engineering. The teaching method of DTU is vastly different from that of RMSC programme in CUHK. They emphasize and encourage co-operation and experience by placing heavy focus on group work and project. I learnt very well under this teaching approach.

Among different courses, the machine learning course interested me the most. In the course, I co-operated with international students in a group project that aims to predict ratings of films. Although we did not find an accurate model, we gained experience in applying machine learning to real life problem. This experience stimulated my interest in data science and encouraged me to learn more and find real life application of data science.

Social-wise, at the first week I am introduced and welcomed by a buddy composed of old and new students from all countries, very alike to the “O Camp” in CUHK. They were very passionate and friendly. We went partying, drinking, visiting to city, etc. We have quite a lot of fun together and I am glad to have met them. Among many buddies, I am very friendly with a Japanese called Keisuke since we have very similar personality and hobbies. He is planning to visit Hong Kong and I will be his guide when he makes his trip.

The hall mates I lived with are also very friendly. We get to see one another every day and therefore were very close. We exchanged culture about our home countries and I learnt a lot about theirs. Before going to the exchange, I have already set myself a mission to promote Hong Kong internationally. I would tell them stories about Hong Kong, hoping to introduce them the cultural and political aspect of Hong Kong. I am very glad that they like to listen and I also get to know their countries too!

This exchange is very rewarding and I thank the Statistics Department for financially supporting students’ personal development with this scholarship.