The purpose of the Securities and Exchange Commission was to: A. dictate the amount of risk banks could take. B. give low-interest loans to businesses and farmers. C. stabilize Americar banks through authorized loans. D. regulate stock trading and publicly traded companies.

## Step 1<br />The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a regulatory body that was established in 1934 in the United States. Its primary role is to enforce the law against market manipulation and ensure that the securities markets operate fairly and orderly.<br />## Step 2<br />The SEC's main responsibilities include regulating the stock trading and publicly traded companies. This involves ensuring that companies provide accurate and complete information about their financial health and operations, which is crucial for investors to make informed decisions.<br />## Step 3<br />The SEC also ensures that the securities markets operate fairly and orderly, which includes preventing fraud and manipulation in the market.<br />## Step 4<br />The SEC does not dictate the amount of risk banks could take, give low-interest loans to businesses and farmers, or stabilize American banks through authorized loans. These tasks are typically handled by other financial regulatory bodies or government agencies.