Credit Spreads
A credit spread is the extra yield a risky bond pays over a safe benchmark. Learn how spreads are measured, what drives them and what they signal about risk.
A credit spread is the difference between the yield on a bond with credit risk, such as a corporate bond, and the yield on a safe benchmark of similar maturity, usually a government bond or swap rate. It is the market's price for the risk that the borrower will default, plus compensation for lower liquidity and uncertainty. Credit spreads are one of the most important signals in finance: they widen when investors fear defaults and narrow when they feel confident. In options trading, "credit spread" also means a type of options strategy, covered in Vertical Spreads; this lesson is about bond spreads.
Measuring spreads#
| Measure | Definition | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal (yield) spread | Bond yield minus Treasury yield of similar maturity | Simple, widely quoted |
| G spread | Spread over an interpolated government yield at the exact maturity | More precise |
| Z spread | Constant spread added to the whole zero coupon curve that prices the bond | Accounts for curve shape |
| Option adjusted spread (OAS) | Z spread adjusted for embedded options such as calls | Standard for indices and callable bonds |
| CDS spread | Annual cost of credit protection | See Credit Default Swaps (CDS) |
Spreads are quoted in basis points: 150 basis points equals 1.5 percentage points.
What a spread compensates for#
credit spread ≈ expected default loss + risk premium + liquidity premiumResearch has found that expected default losses explain only part of investment grade spreads, a gap known as the credit spread puzzle; risk and liquidity premiums make up much of the rest. See Default Probability and Recovery Rate.
Typical spread levels#
| Category | Normal times (approx.) | Stress periods |
|---|---|---|
| US investment grade (index OAS) | 90 to 150 bp | 200 to 600 bp (2008 peak above 600) |
| US high yield (index OAS) | 300 to 500 bp | 800 to 2,000 bp (2008 peak near 2,000) |
Approximate ranges based on ICE BofA index history; levels vary. See Investment Grade vs High-Yield Bonds.
Spread duration#
A bond's price sensitivity to spread changes is its spread duration, often close to its interest rate duration for fixed rate bonds.
What drives spreads#
- Economic cycle: spreads widen in recessions as defaults rise.
- Company specifics: earnings, leverage, management actions. See Operating and Financial Leverage.
- Risk appetite: in market selloffs, investors demand more compensation.
- Liquidity: less liquid bonds trade at wider spreads.
- Central bank action: asset purchases can compress spreads, as in 2020. See Quantitative Easing and Tightening.
- Supply: heavy new issuance can push spreads wider.
Spreads as signals#
Credit spreads often widen before or during economic downturns and equity selloffs. Many investors watch high yield spreads as an early warning sign. A sharp widening can signal tighter financing conditions for companies. See Recession Indicators.
Trading spreads#
- Long credit: buy corporate bonds or sell CDS protection, betting spreads tighten.
- Short credit: short bonds, buy CDS protection, betting spreads widen.
- Hedged credit: buy corporate bonds and short Treasury futures to isolate spread risk. See DV01.
- Index trades: use credit indices such as CDX and iTraxx. See Credit Indices.
Frequently asked questions#
What is a credit spread?#
The extra yield a bond with credit risk pays over a safe benchmark of similar maturity, reflecting default, risk and liquidity premiums.
What does a widening credit spread mean?#
Investors are demanding more compensation for credit risk, usually because they fear more defaults or are less willing to take risk.
What is option adjusted spread?#
A spread measure that removes the value of embedded options, such as call features, to compare bonds more fairly.
Next, learn how investors trade credit risk directly in Credit Default Swaps (CDS).
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Mentioned in
- Treasury Bills, Notes and BondsBonds, Rates and Credit
- Credit RatingsBonds, Rates and Credit
- DurationBonds, Rates and Credit
- DV01Bonds, Rates and Credit
- Swaps ExplainedBonds, Rates and Credit
- CLOsBonds, Rates and Credit