Which of the following is an example of a non-operating activity?

Earnings from investments represent a non-operating activity because they are generated from sources outside of the core business operations. Non-operating activities are those that do not relate directly to the primary business activities, such as selling goods or providing services.

In contrast, selling a product and offering a service are fundamental operational activities that reflect the primary revenue-generating functions of a business. Paying suppliers is also an operational activity, as it pertains to the day-to-day essential functions of managing inventory and maintaining business operations. In this context, earnings from investments are categorized as non-operating because they come from financial activities, such as interest or dividends from investments, rather than from the primary activities of running the business itself.