Asset-Or-Nothing Call Option

What Is an Asset-Or-Nothing Call Option?

An asset-or-nothing call is a type of digital option whose payout is fixed after the underlying asset exceeds the predetermined threshold or strike price. The payout depends only on whether or not the underlying asset closes above the strike price — in the money (ITM) — at the expiration date. It does not matter how deep ITM as the payout is fixed.

Understanding an Asset-Or-Nothing Call Option

Asset-or-nothing calls and asset-or-nothing puts either pay or don't pay a fixed amount, depending on whether they expire ITM or not. They can be an effective hedging mechanism under the right circumstances because of their simplified risk and payout structure.

As the name suggests, asset-or-nothing options settle with the physical delivery of the underlying asset. Although all digital options (sometimes referred to as binary options) may sound simple, they differ from standardized options for most securities and may be traded on unregulated platforms. This means they may carry a higher risk associated with an illiquid underlying. They may also be more susceptible to use by those engaging in fraudulent activity.

Investors who wish to invest in binary options should use platforms that are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), or other regulators.

Because the workings of any digital option resemble the simplicity of placing a casino bet, they carry a stigma of being similar to a gambling instrument. But the stigma alone does not eliminate the legitimate use of such an instrument.

That said, most market participants prefer standard options, which pay on a sliding scale. The deeper ITM standard options move, the higher the payout, making their hedge more accurately connected with price movement.

There are other types of binary options, including cash-or-nothing calls and cash-or-nothing puts. As the names suggest, they settle with cash. And since they are digital, i.e. all or none, if the underlying price is above the strike price, it pays the underlying price, and if it is not above the strike, then the payoff is zero.

Binary options are either American style or European style, depending on the individual market and the underlying asset. American style digital options automatically exercise the moment they get ITM, unlike American style standard options. This means that the holder gets the payoff immediately instead of waiting for expiration, similar to one-touch options. The more common European style digital options, meanwhile, only exercise at expiration.

Most asset-or-nothing call options are in the European style, meaning they only exercise at expiration.

Example of an Asset-Or-Nothing Call Option

Assume that gold trades at $1,260 per ounce at 12:45 p.m., on June 2. A trader is bullish on gold and believes that it will trade above $1,275 before the end of that trading day on June 2. The trader purchases 10 gold $1,275 asset-or-nothing call options at 12:45 p.m. If gold closes above $1,275 at the end of the trading day, on June 2, the trader would receive 10 contracts worth of gold. If gold fails to close above $1,275, the trader loses the entire investment.

Closing just slightly ITM is all the call holder needs to profit. If the trader believes the underlying asset will close significantly higher than the strike price, then a standard option may be a better choice since it allows the holder to participate in that gain. The cost should also be lower.