BQ Practice Qs - 3 Flashcards
Merck & Co. is most known for introducing what?
The Measels Vaccine
Why is the new strategy of Merck risky?
Because some of the disease areas Merck will focus on have been resistant to big clinical advances
Which pharmaceutical company is known for creating the first measles vaccine?
Merck
Merk & Co. plan do let go over 80,000 employees over the next two year due to research and development dead ends. What types of diseases / health conditions did Merck target that ended up back firing and was considered a failed strategy?
Major conditions (Cancer)
In July how many barrels of oil, natural gas and related fuels did the US produce a day (the equivalent)?
22 million barrels
What did Lioyd Blankfein said after meeting with president?
” There’s precedent for a government shutdown. There’s no presedent for default .”
Who is the head of the OPEC?
Abdallah Salem alBadri
Which country is the US overtaking as the largest producer of oil and natural gas?
Russia
Which investor is reportedly seeking to oust the current CEO of Sotheby’s?
Dan Loeb
U.S. recently over took Russia as the world’s largest produced of oil and natural gas. This comeback was largely fueled by what?
Shale-rock formations of oil and natural gases.
The U.S. recently took over the energy industry passing Russia as the largest producer of oil and natural gas. What has led to Russia being de-throwned as the worlds largest energy producer?
The U.S. ascendance of its energy output has risen in past years due to Russia struggling to maintain its energy output and its failure to embrace technologies such as hydraulic fracturing that have boosted U.S. reserves.
In the first 6 months of this year, Twitter more than dobled revenues, conversly what else happened on the income statement?
Net loss grew by 40%
Which company is planning on raising up to $1 Billion in a public offering?
Citigroup is being fined $30 million after an analyst leaked negative information about which company?
Apple
One of Warren Buffett’s favorite investing maxims is:
“Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful”
Whose help to blue-chip companies during the financial crisis is now paying off in the form of $10 Billion?
Warren Buffett
What are some bankers warning the government not to do, saying it would have severs risks to the economy?
Paying off the interest on US debt before other financial obligations
Syria was asked to dispose of any chemical weapons following the chemical-weapons attack in a Demascus suburb killing hundreds of people. Who destroyed these weapons, and how?
International weapons inspectors from The Hague-based Organization supervised Syrian personnel as they used cutting torches and angle grinders to destroy or disable any weapon of chemical warfare.
At least one more meeting is set for Japan regarding 12 nations in Pacific Rim. What are these 12 nations meeting for since these negotions first stemmed in 2003?
Japan plans on meeting again at least one more time with 12-nation’s in the Pacific Rim. They plan to discuss negotiations to liberalize trade in the Asian-Pacific region. This would give the U.S. free-trade agreements with several TPP nations, including Japan.
The Vatican Bank, located in a medevil tower inside the Vatican City walls, reported its financial accounts for the first time in its 126-year long history. What events led to this and what does Pope Francis hope to establish by doing this?
The collapse of its main shareholder, Banco Ambrosiano, sparked the start of scandals in 1982 up until most recently in June where Italian police detained a Vatican accountant for smuggling cash, from which have been events that have had an impact on the presentation of this financial accounts. Pope Francis said by presenting these, he hopes to strengthen its transparency.
After two weeks of protests, which thousands first took to the streets last month in Sudan after the governement cut fuel subsidies, Sudan’s President has come up with a resolution to fix this problem and to stop protests. What plan Did President Omar al-Bashir propose?
President Bashir has not been able to maintain too many problems in the 24 years he’s been the head of this nation, but as of lately he has managed to stop such protests briefly. He did this with a mix of deadly force, along with cash handouts to nealy half a million families. He also lifted minimum wage levels and began to subsidize cooking gas.
The state of Florida is suing its north-east neighbor, Georgia, for its’ alleged excessive consumption of water in Apalachicola Bay which is located in both states. What was the reason behind Florida suing its’ neighbor state?
The lawsuit was formed due to a sudden decline in the oyster industry for Apalachicola Bay. The oysters are deprived of freshwater flows from the bay needed to maintain ecological balance. Florida argues that Atlanta, and certain parts of Southern Gerogia where farming is a big industry are using up the majority of freshwater instilled in this bay.
A federal court indicted 13 members of Anonymous for conspiring to overload the websites of Congress, credit-card companies, and association representing the film and recording industries. What is Anonymous’s alleged reason for attacking the credit card companies websites?
For refusing to process payments to WikiLeaks.
The federal grand jury indicted 13 people who are suspected of conspiring to overload websites of Congress, credit-card companies, and associations representing the fil and recording industries. Why did these hackers attack credit-card companies?
The attackers allegedly attacked credit-card companies because they were not processing payments for WikiLeaks, the website which has published thousands of leaked government documents.
DNA research has grown as of lately with researchers investing more money to find cures for certain diseases. 23andMe, whose main business is DNA collecting, recently received a patent for what?
23andMe was awarded a U.S. patent for a technique that could be used in a fertility clinic to create babies with selected traits, such as hair color, eye color, or any attribute a parent desires. Although no plans of this have sparked yet, 23andMe plans on using this patent to better understand genetic profiling.
The Transportation Security Administration was called to talk about tightening laws on who can board an airplane, and the process it takes to get through a terminal. What event sparked the TSA to address this situation?
The Transportation Security Administration discussed an issue about a 9-year old boy from Minneapolis-St. Paul, who boarded a plane to Las Vegas. The catch was this boy boarded the plane without a ticket allowing him access to fly without proper requirements. The TSA said they plan on tightening laws about people under the age of 18 using airplanes as a means for transportation.
What is the majority’s opinion in a poll released Tuesday towards Congress’s funding for the law?
Most of people don’t think congress should cut off funding for the law
Despite the government shutdown, which groups seem to be carrying on as normal?
U.S. businesses and Investors
Of the 14 states run health care exchanges, six states issued information on the number of completed individual applications on the new federal website of the new health care act. Which state reported the most completed online applications of 6,909
Kentucky
Arizona law-enforcement officials have been in the news lately for acting in un-just ways while on the job. What did a federal judge order on behalf on the Arizona sheriff’s office?
A federal judge in Arizona ordered that an Arizona sheriff’s office to immediately take steps to stop racial profiling during law-enforcement stops and ordered a court-appointed monitor to oversee its progress. This racial profiling spurred from prolonged trafiic stops against Latino people of that community.
What event occurred that is likely to fuel discussion on illegal migration in the EU?
Vessel headed to Italy carrying about 500 people, capsizes, killing at least 114
During the government shutdown, many economists will be watching confidence gauges very closely, because they donﾒt have access to what?
most official economic data
During the government shutdown a gormet shop int the Capitol Hill neighborhood in DC stated that all federal workers will receive 10% off for shopping there while members of congress will be charged 10% more. What is the name of this shop?
Sapore oils and vinegars
After a failed effort to topple the government, which country is facing more challenges with its very weak economy?
Italy
Next year the sales tax in Japan will be raised to what?
8%
President Thein Sein of Myanmar visited the state of Rakhine for what purpose?
To help curb Sectarian Violence
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations stating the Israel would take unilateral military action against Israel if the international community did not make an effort to stop what?
Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons
According to Eike Batista what are the outlines for the restructuring of OGX’s debt?
A debt for equity swap; creditors will most likely take control of the company
Who are the four candidates contesting for the position of GM’s CEO Dan Akerson?
Steve Girsky, Dan Ammann, Mary Barra, and Mark Reuss
What did the most senior executive in the passage do in GM at first?
Mary Barra was vice president of human resources until 2011
Which iconic fashion designer may not be getting a renewed contract from Louis Vuitton?
Marc Jacobs
Which German gas and engineering firm is planning on spending $200 million in a new facility in Texas?
Linde
There will be soon be a new CEO at General Motors. The current CEO is not happy with the pace and effort to stream line. General Motors fortunes depend largely on sales of what type of automobile in which country?
Trucks in the United States
What is the name that Facebook has given the company town they are building for their employees?
Anton Menlo
Which company makes Black Hawk helicopters for the Defense Department?
United Technologies Corp.
What perk is Facebook adding for its employees?
A housing community that is within walking distance of its offices
Small business such as EnDepth Solutions LLC are greatly suffering from the government shutdown because the all of their customers are ____
Federal Agencies
Employees working for Facebook may never have to go home for work as the company plans on building what?
$120 million, 394 housing community within walking distances of Facebook offices for employees
Facebook Inc. has plans on expanding this social networking giant into new industries to help generate new customers, and to generate more profit. Which industry has this tech giant reached out to now?
Facebook Inc. plans on entering the real estate industry where real estate prices are sky-rocketing in areas surronding Bay Area, which this real estate will be located. Facebook is working with a local dealer to build a multi-million dollar, 394-unit housing communty, housing Facebook employees, non-emplyees, and even low income residents.
One of the biggest challenges Twitter will face as it seeks investors is the flase or spam accounts. About how much of the 215 million users is made up of false or spam accounts?
Less than 5%
Next Collections is facing issues in which country after keeping workers far past the 10 hour workdays that the law allows?
Bangladesh
What do “Social listening” or “Social-data” firms do?
Spot trends that would take a long time for human to see on their own. Or, Trends. Or, early warning. Or, the collection, dissemination, and analysis of peoples online data.
What US made products has Wal-Mart announced to offer that will create more than 1200 jobs?
socks, towels, candles and light bulbs
What protects car dealers from allowing consumers to bypass showrooms when buying new cars?
State franchise laws
Which major store is increasing the amount of products made in the USA by $5 billion a year?
Wal-Mart
GM is trying to avoid legal obstacles in an effort to do what?
Sell cars online
GM announced that by the end of next year, they plan to extend a Web-based application, called Shop-Click-Drive, to its entire dealer network. How would this app work?
The Shop-Click-Drive app would let new-car buyers use their computer screen to lock in the price of a new car, get an estimate of the trade-in value of their old car, apply for financing and even arrange a test drive or delivery of their new vehicle. This new breakthrough has changed how we shop for vehicles.
What is Samsung Electronics key weakness?
Software
The US dominance on production of airplanes has seemingly ended as which airline has placed its first order with Airbus?
Japan Airlines
Which company is the largest manufacturer of smartphones in the world?
Samsung
Which Chinese smartphone company has overtaken Apple’s share of the market in China?
Xiaomi
Starbucks Corp. is starting to branch out from the once perceived coffee only shop. What moves has Starbucks made to show they are trying to expand their image?
Starbucks has recently announced that they will now replace their sweet pastries and now offer baked goods to the public which will include a variety of baked pastries. This plan was introduced after Starbucks acquired La Boulange, a San Francisco bakery, which will incorporate recipes strictly from this bakery alone.
Ford Motor Co. was the winner of sales in September. They accomplished this by offering what type of cars at a lower price?
F-series trucks
AMR spr. And US Airways group have less opposition to merging now that Greg Abbott has done what?
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has dropped his opposition to the merger.
How is Google trying to cement it’s position in Europe?
They are trying to settle and antitrust case with the EU
What former mobile power is being sought after by distressed-investing firms?
BlackBerry
Why did BlackBerry agree to the unusual set of terms of Fairfax?
Because It hopes that the move would put a floor under its sagging stock and help lure rival offers
From which investment specialist has Blackberry drawn the interest of?
Cerberus Capital Management
What country recently moved closer to approving a bill to protect local bookstores from amazon.com
France
After the end of the government shutdown, what is the FAA seeking to do?
Lift some of its current restriction on the use of electronic devices
Which company is planning to release a new video streaming device to support its current streaming video service?
Amazon
Why is Macy’s rethinking their E-Commerce plan for China?
Economic growth is slowing down in China
Macy’s Inc. have reached a deal to where they plan to expand their online shopping experience into the world’s second-largest economy in China. Macy’s put these plans on hold for what reasons?
Macy’s planned to begin their online sales last year after they purchased VIPStore, a private-label brand in China, but later put these plans on hold to learn more about Chinese shoppers. Macy’s feels it should learn more about how Chinese shoppers act while shopping online. They noted they are not concerned for China’s slow growing economy, or the appetite for luxery goods desired in China.
The takeover of Cooper Tire and Rubber by which company may not happen as they seek new cost negotiations?
Apollo Tyre
Nestl� plans to clean out some of its supboard by eliminating underperforming lines it has in operations. Which lines have been on the chopping block for this food giant?
Some lines that have been underperforming here lately for Nestl� include its PowerBar business which was put up for sale last week due to not performing as expected, and increased compeition in its field. Nestl� also spoke about improving performance its’ Jenny Craig line, which could be at fault if production does not pick up soon.
Instagram has taken social media by surprise with its popularity, and users on the rise. With so much success so far, Instagram does not have a cent to show for it. What plan does Instagram have to help generate revenue?
Twitter recently announced its intentions for an initial public offering hoping to spark revenue for this social networking giant. After Facebook Inc. purchased Instagram, they had intentions on turning this non-profit company into a revenue generating company. Facebook announced that it would begin putting advertisements on Instagram to generate profit.
Somalia has been experiencing civil warfare since the early 1990s. Though Somalia seeks change by introducing its first permanenet governmentlast year. Violence drove a lot of business out of this country, but what industry is thinking about re-entering this once-viloent country?
Somalia’s central government has been in talks with some of the world’s biggest energy companies in attempt to bring back to oil industry to the African nation. Recently, large oil and natural-gas discoveries in East Africa has made Somalia a desired destination for companies such as Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil, BP, and others to set up their oil industry in.
What deal gave Constellation Brands Inc., a wine and spirits maker, full control of Crown Imports?
Constellation closed its largest deal ever in June, paying Belgium’s Anheuser-Busch about $5.3 billion to gain U.S. distribution rights for Corona along with other Mexican beers, and a Mexican brewery. This deal gave Constellation full control of Crown Imports from Grupo Modelo which previously owned 50% joint venture with Constellation.
The release of which movie set October box office records and earned $55.6 million in just one weekend?
Gravity
A 20-person start up claiming a breakthrough that made it theoretically possible to carry two-way traffic simultaneously through a given chunk of radio spectrum was founded by a group of researchers from what university?
Stanford University
Xiamo is the Chinese word for:
Millet
Kumu Networks proposed their plan on what’s next after today’s cellular networks cope with a flood of new smartphone users and data demands on wireless networks. What did Kumu propose as to how their technology could change self-interfence?
Kumu says they have a system that could be installed to where smartphones would be able to receive signal in crowded places such as sporting events. Kumu’s technology can allow radios on cellular towers that communicate with mobile phones and those associated with long-range transmissions to operate on the same frequency.
Why are large enclosed malls recovering faster from the downturn, than strip shopping centers –typically open-air retail strips?
Malls are recovering faster because people go to them for entertainment, high-end retail, and dining while people normally go to strip malls for basic consumer needs that they can also satisfy online, for even cheaper.
Tesla agreed to withdraw a lawsuit appealing a decision by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to deny what, in exchange for being able to start sales at Tyson’s corner?
a Dealership License
An online video of a car catching fire seems to be drastically hurting the stock of which company?
Tesla
After a video of Tesla’s Model S going up in flames, their stock took a hit. What did Tesla give as a response to why the Model S, which had the highest crash-test ratings of any vehicle tested in the past few years, caught up in flames?
Tesla Motors Inc. responded to a video posted of their Model S going up in flames by saying it was caused by the battery. The flame was caused by metal road debris that damaged a module in its battery pack on the car’s underbody.
Why did some investors call forApple to give more money back to holders?
Because of its cash position, wchich stood at $146.6 billion at June 29
What did Dimon acknowledge privately?
He has little comtrol over the course of the bank’s punishments from regulators
International Paper is the latest in a string of more than two dozen companies to settle a lawsuit over what?
401(k)
In a time when many banks are suffering from slow mortgage demand, weak trading revenue, and higher legal costs, many banks are reporting a cut in profit estimates . Analysts reduced estimates for the six largest U.S. banks during the quarter and cut profit estimates for all banks except for _______
Wells Fargo
As competition among exchanges and other trading platforms have ramped up in recent years, exchanges have fallen short in their resposibilities as they seek to lure trading to their system causing what to happen?
The SEC to step in and potentially overhaul the oversight of the financial market
Where does Hedge funds typically focus ?
They typically focus on buying the debt of troubled corporations
Why are some European banks holding out on Detroit instead of selling to distressed investors?
They’re seeking a boost in payout compared to what they would get by selling.
For years stock exchanges have been under a self regulatory policy which allows them to make their own policies for the trading activities they host. This self regulatory policy has now been questioned by the SEC as they are concerned it is not meeting the needs of who?
Investors
William Ackman sold his invesment in Penney’s in August generating losses of how much?
More than $600 million
Which top aide for Bernard Madoff is set to testify against five of Madoff’s former employees?
Frank DiPascali Jr.
China has been a bonanza for Yum’s KFC chains until recently when a declining economy and what other factor has lead to possible zero to negative growth?
Food safety scare, or Asian flu
What fast food chain has China been a bonanza for in the intervening years?
KFC
How is the government shutdown having an effect on small business?
They aren’t able to get government-backed loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration
SAC Capital Advisors LP and Capital Z partners Management LLC is seeking a buyer for a Bermuda based reinsurance company shortly after SAC what indicted for what?
Insider trading, criminal insider trading charges
Lorillard has agreed to pay as much as $100 million to acquire Skycig. What does Skycig Produce?
Electronic Cigarettes
What are the names of the Big Three US tobacco companies?
Lorillard, Altria Group, and Reynolds American
With the Food and Drug Administration signaling a desire to reduce the level of nicotine in cigarette’s, Big Tobacco has taken a hit. What move did one U.S. tobacco company (Lorillard) do that recently has taken notice from competitors in the tobacco industry?
Lorillard recently agreed to pay as much as $100 million for Skyrig, a U.K. based electronic cigarette maker, following a last year purchase of blu eCigs. This move has shown to be risky, but it has shown pressure to diversify and expand.
The Treasury Department has said it has until Oct 17th to do what
before it exhausts emergency measures to avoid falling behing on its obligations
Shinzo Abe has noted that he hopes to secure long-term growth in Japan after monetary and fiscal stimulus have done their work. Abe noted that two initiatives stood out for their potential to reshape the economy and excite investors. What initiatives did Abe make?
Shinzo Abe has shown interest to help expand Japan’s economy and form stability. He insisted that to reshape this economy and excite investors Japan is hoping to strike a free-trade deal that would allow the U.S. and other Pacific nations to trade on domestic waters. Abe also insisted that Japan needs to make changes to employment rules to make it easier to dismiss workers.
In the case of a weeklong shutdown, federal salary payments could be reduced by about how much?
$2 billion
Mark Cuban sold his entire 6% stake of Mamma.com in 2004 and has now taken the stand to testify his case against insider trading. What was Cuban’s reasoning he gave about emails he sent regarding why he made these trades?
Mark Cuban took the stand to make his case against his accusation of insider trading. When questioned why he gave certain replies through email on why he made these trades, Cuban responded that he sold the shares because of the private placement offering known as PIPE.
New York’s top prosecutor annouced on Wednesday a lawsuit against both Bank of America Corp., and Wells Fargo & Company over violations of a mortgage settlement. What was the reasoning behind these allegations?
Top prosecutor, Eric Schneiderman, said Bank of America and Wells Fargo failed to respond to borrowers seeking loan modifications in a timely manner and that these two banks needed to address problems with documentation necessary to complete these requests.
How much money are debt-laden companies on track to borrow in the nonbank “shadow lending” system
$1 trillon
Twitter has sparked interest from many investors after it announced their intentions of an IPO. This event happened to help generate more revenue to Twitter, so that they can compete with Facebook. Although Facebook has generated more revenue overall, Twitter has taken over Mobile profits. How has this happened.
Twitter generated roughly around 65% of its revenue from its mobile users in June, but facebook has not had this much success in the mobile industry. Facebook said that mobile devices were only worsening the revenue picture, but Twitter has shown otherwise. This major push towards mobile advertisements may be what gives Twitter the nudge over Facebook.
What is the number of government workers who will go unpaid due to the government shutdown?
800000
What city where several major pipelines meet and where oil futures are settled physically might soon have a lack of Energy Information Adminastration data due to ther government shutdown?
Cushing, Oklahoma
West Texas Intermediate traded at a discount to Brent crude oil pretty consistently since 2010 as U.S. output led to gluts in the Midwest. When WTI’s discount peaked last September to $27 a barrel, it slowly caught up to them in July. Why did this discount experience such a peak?
The reason to why this discount caught back up to WTI in July, after peaking out at around $27 a barrel in September, was that new pipeline capacities were opening up, providing options for draining the oil toward the coast, where it could be refined for exploring at global prices.
There are many superstitions regarding flight, including Triskaidekaphobia. What is Triskaidekaphobia?
Fear of the number 13.
As many passengers are worried about the safety of their flight and may get superstitious, you will never see airlines with a flight no _____ ?
13
Passengers have their different rituals they do before entering a plane for lift-off. Airlines are also superstitious when it comes to flying. How have airlines been subject to being superstitious?
When it comes to flight numbers in air travels, not much varies, but one number never ends up on the list of flights. The number 13 is never used when scheduling flights due to bad mojo that could be brought on by that number.
Research from the University of Texas suggests that people who often say “I” are what?
Less powerful and less sure of themselves
Research from the University of texas shows that the usage of pronouns, such as “I”, says more about someone than one might realize. What did research uncover about this pronoun and the people who use it reguraly?
Research from the University of Texas suggests that people who frequently say “I” are less powerful and less sure of themselves than those who limit their use of this telling pronoun. Frequent “I” users subconsciously believe they are subordinate to the person to whom they are talking
Apple recently released its iTunes Radio line which rivals services such as Pandora. Although similar to Pandora, what features stick out on this new line for Apple?
iTunes radio is similar to Pandora, but tries to vary itself to rival its competitor. iTunes radio keeps a tab on recent songs you listened to so that you can look through history and have access to it later on if wanted. It also uses a combination on whats in your iTunes library and computer algorithm to determine what tracks to play.
What social networking company prides itself on its laid-back office style to the point where people don’t even wear shoes in the office?
Foursquare
What would Jo Jo Hermann of the band Widespread Panic rather do than party on tour?
Running and biking
According to Wall Street reporters Reed Albergotti and Vanessa O’Connell what is considered to be the greatest sports conspiracy ever?
Lance Armstrong winning the Tour de France
NCAA president Mark Emmett recently raised the idea of allowing footballs to enter the NFL starting when?
After graduating high school
