Final answer:
A corporation that has its stock traded on national securities exchanges is known as a publicly held corporation. Such corporations can raise funds by selling stock or issuing bonds, and their shares are owned by the general public who become shareholders. The correct answer is option: b) publicly held.
Step-by-step explanation:
A corporation whose stock is traded on at least one national securities exchange is known as a publicly held corporation. This type of corporation differs from a private, closely held, or eleemosynary corporation, primarily by the fact that its shares are available for the general public to buy and sell on stock exchanges.
Investors who purchase these stocks become shareholders and acquire a portion of the ownership of the corporation. Because publicly held corporations have their stocks listed on stock exchanges, they can raise capital by selling additional stock or issuing bonds. This usually aims to fund their operations or invest in new projects to help the company grow.