NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Goldman Sachs Group Inc. regularly provides its top clients with stock-trading tips that differ from the firm's published research reports, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

The report said that the firm's GS, +2.12% researchers hold weekly meetings, referred to as the "trading huddle," at which analysts discuss their latest views of individual stocks, and that those views are passed on to the firm's top clients and Goldman traders who run the firm's own money.

The paper, citing company documents, said few of the firm's clients who receive written stock research from Goldman ever hear or know about the views that emerge from the meetings.

The report cited research on asset manager Janus Capital Group Inc. JNS as an example of the practice. See full story at WSJ.com

It said Goldman issued a report on Janus on April 1, 2008, rating the stock neutral, and a day later at one of the weekly meetings told a group of Goldman traders that the stock was likely to go higher.

Following that meeting, the paper reported that research department employees called about 50 favored clients, and passed on the information about Janus from the meeting.

Goldman's clients who receive written research did not find out about the bullish update until six days after the call to top clients, according to the report.

The report cited critics of the practice, who argue that the policy hurts customers who do not receive the updates.

The report quoted a Goldman Sachs spokesman in its story saying, "Analysts are expected to discuss events that may have a near-term or short-term impact on a stock's price." He further told the paper that earnings estimates or stock-price targets "must be published and disseminated broadly to all clients."

Goldman Sachs declined to comment to MarketWatch on the story.