18.. The following information pertains to Sowell Corporation's defined benefit pension plan: At the end of 2022 , Sowell contributed $696 thousand to the pension fund and benefit payments of $624 thousand were made to retirees. The expected rate of return on plan assets was 10%, and the actuary's discount rate is 8%. There were no changes in actuarial estimates and assumptions regarding the PBO. What is the 2022 pension expense for Sowell's plan? A. $594 thousand. B. \$606 thousand. C. $678 thousand. D. None of these are correct