• The high yield bond spread, also known as the credit spread, is the difference between the yield on a high yield bond and a benchmark bond such as an investment grade or treasury bond.

  • High yield bonds offer higher yields due to the risk of default. The higher the risk of default, the higher the interest paid on these bonds.
  • High-yield bond spreads are used to gauge credit markets, where widening spreads could signal worsening macroeconomic conditions.