54 The ________ designates the date on which the stock transfer books are closed in regard to a dividend payment. Answer A payment date B date of record C declaration date D ex-dividend date 0.5 points Question 55 Assume that as the result of a firm announcing a large unexpected increase in its dividend payment, the price of the firm's common stock rises. This event would be consistent with which of the following? Answer A The beta effect B The tax preference theory C The dividend irrelevance theory D The information effect