Open market operations refer to which action by a central bank? A. Regulating the amount of money banks hold in reserve
O B. Changing the price banks pay to borrow money
O C. Buying and selling treasury securities
O D. Adjusting interest rates on stock markets

O C. Buying and selling treasury securities

Explanation:

Through the Federal Reserve, the government employs monetary policy to influence the direction and speed of economic growth. Open market operations are part of the monetary policies. It entails the government buying or selling securities from commercial banks.

Monetary policies regulate the amount of money supply in the economy. When the government wants to increase the amount of money in the economy, it buys government securities from banks. The Fed deposits large sums of money to banks in exchange for the securities. The Banks lends the money to firms and households, therefore increasing money in the economy. The selling of securities by the Fed decreases the amount of money in the country.