Forex glossary

Term Spread in Forex

A clear definition of Term Spread, with practical context for reading markets and making better trading decisions.

Level 2 · From Prices to PracticeOrders & execution

Definition

Definition

A term spread is the difference between interest rates or yields on debt instruments with different maturities but otherwise comparable characteristics. It is often used to describe the shape of a yield curve.

How It Works

Electronic markets separate the price you see, the instruction you send, and the final execution you receive. Available liquidity, order type, venue rules, and market movement can all affect what happens between those steps.

Why It Matters

This vocabulary lets you read a broker or platform screen accurately. The goal at Level 2 is mechanical literacy - knowing what a displayed price, order status, or execution record means - rather than predicting the market.

Key Takeaway

A term spread is the difference between interest rates or yields on debt instruments with different maturities but otherwise comparable characteristics.

Practical forex example

If a 10-year government bond yields 4.2% and a 2-year bond yields 3.7%, the 10-year minus 2-year term spread is 0.5 percentage points, or 50 basis points.

Why Term Spread matters

Understanding Term Spread helps traders interpret market information, plan decisions, and manage risk with more context.

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