Which of the following acts focuses primarily on public company disclosures?

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 primarily focuses on public company disclosures. This legislation was enacted to enhance corporate governance and accountability, especially in the wake of corporate scandals that revealed significant shortcomings in the financial reporting processes of publicly traded companies. One of the key provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act is its requirement for more rigorous disclosure of financial information to the public, thus ensuring that investors have access to accurate and reliable data about a company’s financial health.

The act established requirements for the management of publicly traded companies to certify the accuracy of financial statements and disclosures. It also increased penalties for fraudulent financial activity and regulated the auditing process, all aimed at protecting investors from corporate fraud. This focus on enhancing the transparency of public companies’ financial practices is what makes the Sarbanes-Oxley Act the correct choice in this context.

While other acts like the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 also pertain to disclosures, it primarily governs trading and regulates securities markets, rather than focusing solely on public company reporting. The other acts listed do not have the same emphasis on enhancing transparency and accountability for public company disclosures as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.