Default Risk

英文名称：Default Risk 中文名称：违约风险
公司或个人未能履行合约义务的风险，多指债券发行人在债券到期时无法还本付息而使投资者遭受损失的风险。

The risk that companies or individuals will be unable to make the required payments on their debt obligations. Lenders and investors are exposed to default risk in virtually all forms of credit extensions. To mitigate the impact of default risk, lenders often charge rates of return that correspond the debtor's level of default risk. The higher the risk, the higher the required return and vice versa. 

Standard measurement tools to gauge default risk include FICO scores for consumer credit, and credit ratings for corporate and government debt issues. Credit ratings for debt issues are provided by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations (NRSROs) such as Standard & Poor's, Moody's and Fitch Ratings.