credit spread
noun[U]
ukusFINANCE,STOCK MARKET
thedifferencebetween theinterestpaidonbondsthat have alowlevelofrisk, such as thosesoldby the US Treasury, and theinterestpaidon those that have a highlevelofrisk:
Thecreditspreadsoaredasmarketsavoidedailingcompanies'paperandsoughtthesafetyofWesterngovernments'bonds.