Definition
One hundredth of a percentage point (0.01%). Used to express changes in interest rates and spreads.
100 basis points = 1 percentage point. So when the Fed raises rates by 25 bps, it means +0.25%. When HY spread widens by 50 bps, it means junk bond yields rose 0.50% relative to Treasuries. This unit is standard in fixed income and monetary policy discussions because percentage point changes can be ambiguous.