A dividend is:

a) A payment made to shareholders based on a company's profits

b) The interest earned on a bond investment

c) The fee charged by a brokerage firm for executing a trade

d) The price at which a security is bought or sold

53. Which of the following organizations is responsible for overseeing the accounting and financial reporting practices of public companies in the United States?

a) Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)

b) Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB)

c) International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)

d) Government Accountability Office (GAO)

54. A stock split occurs when:

a) A company distributes additional shares of stock to its existing shareholders

b) A company combines multiple shares of stock into a single share

c) A company repurchases its own shares from the market

d) A company issues new shares of stock to the public

55. In options trading, the term "in the money" refers to:

a) A call option with a strike price below the current market price of the underlying asset

b) A put option with a strike price above the current market price of the underlying asset

c) A call option with a strike price above the current market price of the underlying asset

d) A put option with a strike price below the current market price of the underlying asset

56. The role of a

market surveillance unit is to:

a) Monitor trading activities for potential market manipulation or insider trading

b) Provide investment advice to clients

c) Manage corporate mergers and acquisitions

d) Regulate the conduct of broker-dealers

57. Which of the following investment strategies aims to mimic the performance of a specific market index?

a) Active investing

b) Value investing

c) Index investing

d) Momentum investing

58. A stop order becomes a market order:

a) When the price of a security reaches a specified level

b) When the price of a security exceeds a specified level

c) When the price of a security drops below a specified level

d) When the price of a security is consistently volatile

59. The Securities Act of 1933 primarily regulates:

a) The trading of securities on stock exchanges

b) The registration and issuance of new securities

c) The conduct of broker-dealers and investment advisers

d) The enforcement of insider trading laws