Quid Pro Quo

Filed Under »
Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Quid Pro Quo'

A Latin phrase meaning "something for something". This term is typically used in financial circles to describe a mutual agreement between two parties in which each party provides a good or service in return for a good or service.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Quid Pro Quo'

Quid pro quo agreements are sometimes viewed negatively. For example, in a quid pro quo agreement between a large financial house and a company, the financial house might alter poor stock ratings in exchange for company business. In response to these potential occurrences, the NASD has issued rules in order to ensure that firms put customers’ interests before their own.

A positive example of a quid pro quo agreement is a soft dollar agreement. In a soft dollar agreement, one firm (Firm A) uses another firm’s (Firm B) research. In exchange, Firm B executes all of Firm A's trades. This exchange of services is used as payment in lieu of a traditional, hard dollar payment.

Related Definitions

  • Allotment

    During an IPO, this is the number of shares granted to each participating underwriting firm that they are permitted to sell. Remaining surpluses are then given to other firms which have ...
    Read More »
  • Initial Public Offering - IPO

    The first sale of stock by a private company to the public. IPOs are often issued by smaller, younger companies seeking the capital to expand, but can also be done by large privately ...
    Read More »
  • National Association Of Securities Dealers - NASD

    The NASD was a self-regulatory organization of the securities industry responsible for the operation and regulation of the Nasdaq stock market and over-the-counter markets. It also ...
    Read More »
    • Soft Dollars

      A means of paying brokerage firms for their services through commission revenue, as opposed to through normal direct payments (hard dollar fees). The investing public tends to have a ...
      Read More »
    • Hard Dollars

      Cash fees or payments made by an investor or customer to a brokerage firm in return for their services. Hard dollars differ from soft dollar payments because soft dollar payments are ...
      Read More »
    • Anti-Reciprocal Rule

      A rule created by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to protect individual investors from conflicts of interest that may arise when brokerage firms and mutual funds ...
      Read More »
    • Pro-Tanto

      A Latin phrase meaning "for so much" which is often associated with a partial payment on a legal claim. A pro-tanto payment or settlement does not mean that an entire obligation has been ...
      Read More »

Articles Of Interest

Partner Links