In finance, a BPS (basis point) is the smallest measuring unit. Basis points are used by accountants, bankers, as well as other financial experts to talk about sums that are less than 1%.
One BPS (basis point & pronounced as “beep”) is the same as 1/100 of 1%, or 0.01%. As a result, a BPS is equal to a percentage.
When altering the rates of interest or lending money, the Fed (Federal Reserve) utilizes basis points. Basis points allow the Federal Reserve to exercise tighter control over the interest rates it manipulates to assist in the regulation of the US economy.
Financial managers and investors utilize bps to trade in United States Treasury bonds, mutual funds, as well as exchange-traded equities.
Why is it Important?
A bps may seem little, yet it may have a significant influence on the economy. For instance, if interest rates rise by a few basis points, it will affect the mortgage business, credit card interest rates, as well as different financial products by millions, if not billions, of dollars.
Another reason for the importance of basis points is that they are exact. They assist in removing some of the ambiguity that might come when discussing the differences between 2 percentage rates.
Price Value of a Basis Point
The PVBP (Price Value of a Basis Point) is a measurement of the absolute value of one bps change in yield on a bond’s price. It’s another approach of measuring interest-rate risk, akin to duration, which gauges how much a bond’s price changes in response to a 1% rise in interest rates.
PVBP is only a subset of dollar duration. The pricing value of a bps is calculated using a one basis point change rather than a 100 basis point shift. It makes little difference whether rates rise or fall since such a minor change in rates will have the same effect in either direction.
Why Use Basis Point?
The phrase basis point is used by traders because it is more practical than referencing a percentage and can help prevent confusion. This can aid in the speeding up of communications and the avoidance of trading errors. Because the prices of financial products are frequently very sensitive to even slight changes in underlying rates of interest, traders need certainty.
SEE ALSO: What is a Barrier Option?
