Stabilizing bids
A practice used by underwriters to stabilize the secondary market price of a security after an initial public offering (IPO). The bid is made on behalf of the IPO's underwriters to repurchase shares at the offer price.
Stabilizing bids are one of many methods used by underwriters to support the price of the IPO. Stabilizing bids may be used to support a stock that has high selling pressure from investors looking to "flip" their purchased shares for a quick profit. Any attempt to use a stabilizing bid by an underwriter must be made known to the regulatory body of the market.