What does a yield curve depict?

A yield curve illustrates the connection between interest rates and the time to maturity for debt securities, such as government bonds. It typically plots the yield (interest rate) on the vertical axis against the maturity period on the horizontal axis.

This graphical representation helps investors understand how interest rates vary over different maturities. For example, a normal upward-sloping yield curve indicates that longer-term debt securities typically offer higher yields than short-term bonds, reflecting the increased risk and uncertainty associated with longer time horizons. Conversely, a flat or inverted yield curve can signal economic conditions like lower growth expectations or impending recessions, making the yield curve a crucial tool for assessing economic forecasts and making investment decisions.

The other options do not accurately describe the yield curve: they focus on aspects like corporate profits, investment returns, or asset performance relative to market averages, which are different financial concepts that do not pertain to the relationships displayed by a yield curve.