Yield basis

A basis of quoting the return on an instrument by reference to its current value (rather than by reference to its terminal value).

Example: Yield basis calculation

When an instrument is quoted - on a yield basis, one period before its maturity - at a yield of 10% per period, this means that it is currently trading at a price of 100% DIVIDED BY (1 + 10% = 1.10) = 90.91% of its terminal value, to the nearest 0.01%.

(The periodic discount rate on this instrument is 100% LESS 90.91% = 9.09%. So if the same instrument had been quoted on a discount basis, then the quoted discount rate per period = 9.09%.)

The relationship between the periodic yield (r) and the periodic discount rate (d) is:

d = r/(1+r)

So in this case:

d = 0.10/(1 + 0.10)

= 0.10/1.10

= 9.09% (to the nearest 0.01%)

See also

• Discount basis
• Effective annual rate
• Nominal annual rate
• Periodic yield