Credit Default Swaps

Free CFA Level II lesson in Fixed Income. 11 min read, ~1,723 words.

CDS: protection buyer pays periodic premium; seller makes contingent payment on a credit event, transferring credit risk to the seller. Standardized coupons: 100 bps (IG), 500 bps (HY). An upfront payment settles the difference between market spread and fixed coupon. Upfront = (Market spread - Fixed coupon) x EffSpreadDur x...

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