The Hindu Business Line : Investment Quiz

1. When Infosys was started in the early 1980s, its promoters had difficulty in raising funds. A low-profile bank provided a loan for a modest sum. It is the only entity that is not directly related to its business now in which Infosys still holds shares. Which bank provided the lifeline?

2. "I have no fear of failure, provided I use my heart and head, hands and feet — and work like hell." With this credo, in 1914 Charles E Merrill launched a eponymous firm, which is now a global giant and known as...

3. On its first day of trading, the stock of Google joined a list of 18 U.S companies whose shares are traded at over $100. Which is the only company whose share trades at more than $1,000?

4. Whch is the first Indian private sector company to secure a credit rating from international raters, Moody's and Standard & Poor's?

5. The name of Annie Grimes is etched in Wall Street folklore. Why?

6. The equity of the National Stock Exchange is owned by several banks and insurance companies. Only one private sector bank figures in the list of owners of NSE. Name the bank?

7. If you were to buy WIT on the New York Stock Exchange, which Indian company's equity would be investing in?

8. A path-breaking demerger of Hindustan Ciba-Geigy (India) in the mid-1990s unlocked value for shareholders. The latter were given shares in three companies after the demerger. Name them?

9. Life in New York was brought to a grinding halt by 17 inches of snow in 1978. Then, a financial firm took out full-page advertisements in newspapers to announce that it was open for business round the clock. This ad campaign also led to the baseline for the bank across the world. Which bank are we referring to? What is its baseline?

10. At present, the $100 bill is the highest denomination in circulation in the U.S. Which was the largest bill ever circulated?

Answers:

1.The Saraswat Co-Operative Bank Ltd (Infosys holds 1035 shares of Rs 10 each).

2.Merrill Lynch

3.Warren Buffett's investment conglomerate, Berkshire Hathaway. Its Class B shares trade at about $ 2,600 and Class A shares at about $ 86,000.

4.Reliance Industries.

5.She was the first bond saleswoman.

6.ICICI Bank

7.Wipro.

8.Novartis, Ciba Specialty and Syngenta.

9.Citi; the citi never sleeps

10. $10,000 note, which is mostly found in museums now.