CDS-Bond Basis - Any credit traders in here?

(Probably) rookie question for any credit trader out there:

Why wouldn't you be able to take that trade?

Short T 6.125 08/15/29 Long CVS 9.35 01/10/2023 Corp Long CVS CDS USD SR 5Y D14 Corp

Earn 496 bps, Lever up, Repeat.

I assume you can't because the basis has been slowly decreasing from -584 on Nov 30, with no apparent big size trade. (HS on BBG)

6 Comments
 

Damn it, I knew there was a rookie mistake somewhere.

How about this trade:

Short T 2 ½ 08/15/23 Long YUM 3 ⅞ 11/01/23 Corp Long YUM CDS USD SR 5Y D14

= 79 bps.

 

Think about the basis as the difference between the CDS - ASW

ASW is the asset swap spread. While the the drivers of the basis are quite technical, I think the most straightforward driver is liquidity. As the credit deteriorates, hedge funds will bid up the price of the protection. The cash bonds, however, are more difficult to short (repo market) and may be held by real money accounts who do not actively trade. This creates a positive basis situation. We could sell CDS and short the closest maturity cash bond.

 

Agreed. Still doesn't explain why the trade I mentioned above still returns a decent basis with no one taking the trade? (This is a long bond trade, so you don't have the challenge of repoing the bond...)

 
Best Response

Excepturi facere maiores ea officiis atque quasi omnis. Praesentium eius autem quis. Doloremque ut consequatur voluptas omnis et excepturi. Pariatur ipsa natus enim tenetur quae nisi.

Vero voluptate velit doloribus dolores ut reiciendis. Fugiat nisi et libero voluptatem qui quia. Natus accusamus eaque ipsam quasi delectus quia sapiente. Molestiae voluptates quo quia ducimus. Tenetur cupiditate earum quam rerum beatae autem illum. Quaerat quisquam repellendus voluptatem velit officiis quidem esse.

Blanditiis quae quo odit quaerat dolorem. Aut magnam quia consequatur quia repellat quia. Quas quis beatae earum qui enim.

Quasi repudiandae ut officiis occaecati. Architecto dolor quasi beatae error. Explicabo aperiam in fugiat non. Aut minima reiciendis aut explicabo odit et hic est.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 13 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
8
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
9
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”