What is the primary focus of the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC)?

The primary focus of the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) is to regulate and oversee securities markets. This responsibility encompasses a broad range of activities essential for maintaining the integrity and functionality of the financial markets. The SEC's mission is to protect investors, maintain fair and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation.

By enforcing securities laws and regulating the activities of market participants, including public companies, brokers, and investment advisors, the SEC aims to ensure transparency and fairness in the trading of securities. This involves requiring companies to disclose financial information, monitoring trading activities for illegal practices such as insider trading, and ensuring that market participants adhere to relevant regulations.

The other options involve areas outside the SEC’s primary responsibilities. Facilitating investment in real estate is typically managed by different regulatory bodies, international trade agreements fall under the purview of trade legislation and government departments focused on commerce, and investment advice to individuals is primarily the domain of financial advisors and firms, not a regulatory body like the SEC.