Binary options, also known as digital options or fixed-return options, are fixed-odds financial instruments that allow individuals to bet on the movement of an underlying market asset. The most popular assets traded in the industry include indices, stocks, commodities (i.e. gold and oil) and Forex.
The fixed-returns options industry has become increasingly popular over the last few years because they provide investors a low-cost, low-risk way of betting on the financial markets. Investors in the industry receive fixed-odds returns, which minimises the amount a trader can lose in a single trade. This contrasts with high-risk trading such as Forex and spread betting, which is traded on leverage. Overall, digital options provides a safer way for beginners to bet on the financial markets.
The payout of these trades is determined by the platform before the trade is executed as a percentage, usually ranging from 70-85%. This determines the size of the return for a winning option.
Types of Binary Bets:
In 2013, binary options brokers offer a greater range of options on their platform with different characteristics and payouts to suit an individual’s trading style. This also includes 60-second options, option builder, and weekend options.
High-Low (Call/Put): The most popular binary trade is the high-low option, where an individual can bet on whether an underlying asset will finish above (Call) or below (Put) a certain price in a given period of time. .
One Touch: The one-touch option pays out when the underlying asset hits a certain price at anytime during the trading period.
Tunnel or Range Option: First of all the trader sets up a high boundary and a low boundary for his trade. If the underlying assets stays within these ranges for the entire trading period (without touching the boundaries) then he wins a pay-out. The tunnel bet is essentially a way for traders to bet on the volatility of the market.
Target: In contrast to a tunnel bet, a target bet pays out in the money when the price hits a specific level determined by the individual. He/she can either set a higher target price if he thinks the market is bullish or a lower target price if the market is bearish.
