About $1 billion of research and other services are purchased annually with soft dollars, the report said.

So soft dollars basically can pay for hard dollar borrowing.

Gold futures moved higher and held firm with the support of a softer dollar.

In the brokerage business, soft dollars have been in use for many years.

This softer dollar will spur exports just at the right time.

So far it has raised $1.2 million in soft dollars and $200,000 in a political action committee.

"The only outlet is an increase in soft dollars."

Already, some in the political process say the effect of soft dollars is corrupting.

The subject that has drawn the most attention, though, is soft dollars.

But as a recent case illustrates, soft dollars can lead to abuse in the brokerage business.