The Hindu Business Line : Investment quiz

1. "During those bubble years while the stock price was going up 30 per cent a month, we would have all-hands meetings, and I would ask employees, `Please do not feel 30 per cent smarter because the stock went up 30 per cent, because when it goes down 30 per cent in a month, we'd have to feel 30 per cent dumber.'" This was the message from the CEO of one of the more successful Internet companies to his employees in 2000. In those days, this company also made investments in web properties such as living.com and pets.com. These only led to losses; the company was forced to lay off 1,300 workers when the dotcom bubble burst in 2000. It has subsequently battled its way to a position of strength. Who is the CEO and which is the company? It recently celebrated its tenth year.

2. Staying in the Internet world, Yahoo has recently invested $1 billion in a Chinese web property. In which company has it acquired a stake? The promoter of this company Mr Jack Ma is known as the "grandfather of the Internet in China".

3. Oracle has in the past month picked up a controlling stake in i-flex solutions. Flexcube is the latter's most well-known product that is used in the financial services business. Name i-flex's first product.

4. This construction company's stock has been one of the star performers over the past year. It started operations in 1919 as a firm of Civil Engineers & Contractors and then was converted into a company named after its founder. Its first job was to construct the pile foundation for the Gateway of India. Name the company.

5. If you buy or sell `BID' on the New York Stock Exchange, in which company's stock would you be trading?

6. Whirlpool has a presence in the consumer durables market in India. Its parent company at the global level is the world's leading home appliances manufacturer and marketer, Whirlpool Corporation. It has recently acquired a major player in the US, outbidding the Haier group of China. Name the company that Whirlpool has acquired.

7. Name the entertainment sector company that has been promoted by southern film stars — Mr Sarath Kumar and his wife, Ms Radhika. The company makes serials that have dominated prime time on the Sun Network. Its stock has risen more than 150 per cent over the past month and half.

8. Which was the first sector-specific mutual fund launched in India?

9. Name the person in the photograph? His company owns several businesses in the US and has also held stakes in marquee names in world of business. One of the businesses — NetJets Inc — sells time-shares in planes to companies and rich fliers. It is the biggest buyer of business aircraft in the world. Its owner is featured in the photograph acquired NetJets for $725 million in 1998.