Question

Passed during the early twenty-first century, the _____ increased the Securities and Exchange Commission's authority to regulate financial markets and investigate charges of fraud and unethical behavior?

Answer 1

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, passed in response to high-profile corporate scandals, enhanced the SEC's regulatory capabilities to prevent fraud in financial markets.

Step-by-step explanation:

Passed during the early twenty-first century, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act increased the Securities and Exchange Commission's authority to regulate financial markets and investigate charges of fraud and unethical behavior. The Act came into being in response to major accounting scandals involving prominent corporations like Enron, Tyco International, and WorldCom. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act aimed to increase confidence in the financial information provided by public corporations and protect investors from accounting fraud.