FC and MC are both service companies. Their stock returns for the past three years were as follows: FC: $-19$ percent, $46$ percent, $30$ percent; MC: $12$ percent, $18$ percent, $21$ percent. If FC and MC are combined into a portfolio with $50$ percent of the funds invested in each stock, calculate the expected return on the portfolio.

A$)17$ percent

B$)18$ percent

C$)16$ percent

D$)19$ percent