The yield curve (or spread) is the difference between the short rates (set by the Fed) and the yield on the longer-dated bond. The yield spread is now about its widest in 40 years. This is a boon to the banks, which can borrow for almost nothing and then buy the long-maturity bonds and rake in the money. This is what the Fed wants; when the banks become bloated with money, they have four choices -- they can make crazy investments (like they did with home mortgages), they can increase their dividends, they can pay the money out in bonuses, or they can lend the money to businesses who really need credit.