Approach (solve the present-value equation directly): Instead of testing options or reframing as forward growth, solve the discounting equation itself as a quadratic, using \( u = \frac{1}{1+r} \) as the unknown.
Step 1: The balance condition is
\[ 1000 = 530u + 594u^{2}, \quad \text{where } u = \frac{1}{1+r}. \]
Step 2: Rearrange into standard form:
\[ 594u^{2} + 530u - 1000 = 0. \]
Step 3: Solve using the quadratic formula. Discriminant \( = 530^{2} + 4(594)(1000) = 280900 + 2376000 = 2656900 \), and \( \sqrt{2656900} = 1630 \).
\[ u = \frac{-530 + 1630}{1188} = \frac{1100}{1188} = \frac{25}{27}. \]
Step 4: Recover \( r \): since \( u = \frac{1}{1+r} = \frac{25}{27} \), we get \( 1+r = \frac{27}{25} = 1.08 \), so \( r = 0.08 = 8\% \).
Final answer: 8%, option (A).