Credit Spread

Fixed Income

Definition

The yield difference between corporate bonds and government bonds of similar maturity, reflecting the additional risk premium investors demand for corporate credit risk over risk-free government securities.

Key Points

  • Widens during economic stress
  • Narrows during economic confidence
  • Key indicator of market risk appetite

Examples

Corporate bond yields 5% vs Treasury 3% = 200bp spread
Widening spreads signal credit concerns