What Is a Credit Spread? - TheStreet Definition

Dictionary of Financial Terms

Spread is the difference in yield between two bonds of similar maturity but different credit quality. For example, if the 10-year Treasury note is trading at a yield of 2% and a 10-year corporate bond is trading at a yield of 4%, the corporate bond is said to offer a 200-basis-point spread over the Treasury.

Widening spreads indicate growing concern about the ability of corporate (and other private) borrowers to service their debt. Narrowing credit spreads indicate improving private creditworthiness.

Definitions of Financial Terms

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