Which of the following is listed as an investor-protection objective?

• A. Systemic Stability
• B. Functioning market free from manipulation
• C. Investor protection
• D. Regulation to be practitioner based

Answer: (C)

Investor protection centers on safeguarding investors’ interests through fair treatment, clear disclosure, suitable product and advice, and accessible remedies. The option that directly expresses this objective is the one that mentions investor protection. Systemic stability focuses on the resilience of the financial system as a whole, not on protecting individual investors. A market functioning without manipulation emphasizes market integrity and fairness—a related goal, but broader than just protecting investors. Regulation that is practitioner-based speaks to how regulation is implemented rather than to protecting investors. Therefore, the explicit investor-protection objective is the best fit.