What is the definition of yield spread in bond markets?

The definition of yield spread in bond markets refers to the difference between the returns on two different bonds. This concept is crucial in understanding how various bonds are priced relative to one another. Yield spreads can indicate the risk premium investors demand for holding a bond relative to another, often reflecting differences in credit quality, liquidity, or term to maturity.

For example, if one bond yields 5% and another bond with a similar maturity but lower credit quality yields 7%, the yield spread would be 2%. This spread helps investors assess the risk involved in choosing one bond over another and informs investment decisions.

In contrast, the other options present definitions that do not capture the essence of yield spread accurately. While the difference in yields between government and corporate bonds gives insight into risk differentials, it is not a comprehensive definition of yield spread, which can apply to any two bonds. Treasury securities' interest rates are relevant but do not pertain specifically to the concept of yield spread as they only focus on one type of bond. Lastly, percentile rank of a bond's yield does not relate to the difference in yields between bonds, making it an inaccurate description of yield spread.