Shepherd Industries had the following cash flows by major categories during the current year.

Cash provided by:
Receipts from customers............................................................................$560,000
Sale of bonds................................................................................................420,000
Sale of treasury stock......................................................................................52,000
Interest and dividends received.......................................................................56,000
Sale of equipment (at a $56,000 loss)...........................................................236,000
Cash used for:
Payments to employees...............................................................................$145,000
Payments to purchase inventory....................................................................190,000
Dividends on common stock.............................................................................60,000
Purchase of treasury stock................................................................................20,000
Interest expense................................................................................................82,000

a. Calculate the net amount of cash provided by or used for financing activities for the year.

b. Briefly justify why you excluded any of these items in your calculation in part a.

c. Briefly explain your treatment of interest expense in your calculation in part a.