What agency was created by Sarbanes-Oxley to enforce ethical and auditing standards?

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) was established by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as a response to major corporate and accounting scandals, such as those involving Enron and WorldCom. The PCAOB's primary mission is to oversee the audits of public companies to protect investors and the public interest by promoting informative, accurate, and independent audit reports. This includes setting auditing standards, inspecting the quality of audits, and enforcing compliance with the law.

By having an independent regulatory body like the PCAOB, the legislation aims to enhance the credibility and reliability of financial reports, which is essential for maintaining investor trust and the integrity of financial markets. The other options do not reflect actual agencies established by Sarbanes-Oxley or do not represent a recognized regulatory body responsible for auditing and ethical standards in public companies.