See basis point.
A trader will use this strategy to generate profit off small fluctuations in the basis point value of two different assets.
For example, a basis trader may perceive two similar securities as being incorrectly priced, and purchase the overpriced security with the expectation of it depreciating (short position), and purchase the underpriced security with the expectation that it will appreciate (long position). As their respective values converge, the basis trader makes their moolah.
Related or Semi-related Video
Finance: What Is a Basis Point?124 Views
finance a la shmoop what is a basis point?
well one percentage point is a hundred basis points, half a percentage is 50
basis points, five percentage points is? yeah we're gonna make you do that one on [frowning man talks to camera]
your own. well the basic idea is that in very large financial transactions those
involved need highly granular computation grids, and basis points
divid interest rates much more tightly. if a company borrows three billion
dollars just noting that the rate is four percent is really vague. it would
need to be noted as four point zero zero percent. why? because just one basis point [equation on screen]
i.e. one hundredth of a percent per year on three billion dollars borrowed
is still a lot of money. that is one basis point on three billion bucks is
300 grand .so basis points are a real thing in high finance transactions and [smiling man talk to camera]
okay okay the answer is 500 basis points. yeah all right now you can go back to
spinning this thingy. [man spins fidget spinner]
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