One Touch Options Strategies
- One Touch Options Strategies: A Beginner's Guide
One Touch options are a unique type of exotic option that have gained significant popularity, especially in the realm of binary options trading. Unlike traditional options that require the underlying asset to cross a specific price level (the strike price) *at* expiration, One Touch options only require the asset price to *touch* a predetermined level *at any point* during the option’s lifetime. This article provides a comprehensive guide to One Touch options strategies, aimed at beginners, covering the fundamentals, risk management, popular strategies, and crucial considerations.
What are One Touch Options?
Before diving into strategies, it’s essential to understand the core mechanics of One Touch options. These options are categorized based on whether the price needs to touch *above* or *below* a specific barrier.
- **One Touch Up:** The price of the underlying asset must touch or exceed the barrier price *at any time* before the option expires for the option to be ‘in the money’ and yield a payout.
- **One Touch Down:** The price of the underlying asset must touch or fall below the barrier price *at any time* before the option expires for the option to be ‘in the money’ and yield a payout.
The barrier price is typically set significantly away from the current market price, making them inherently riskier but offering potentially higher payouts than traditional high/low options. The payout percentage varies depending on the broker, but it’s generally higher than standard binary options, often ranging from 80% to 95%. However, this higher payout reflects the increased probability of the option expiring out-of-the-money.
Key Differences from Traditional Binary Options
The crucial difference lies in the timing requirement. Traditional High/Low options require the asset price to be above or below the strike price *at the exact moment of expiration*. One Touch options are more forgiving; the price only needs to touch the barrier once during the option's lifespan. This makes them sensitive to volatility and short-term price spikes. Binary Options offer a simpler, more direct approach, while One Touch options introduce complexity and leverage volatility.
Understanding the Risks
One Touch options are considered high-risk investments. Several factors contribute to this:
- **Barrier Distance:** The further the barrier price is from the current price, the lower the probability of the option being triggered.
- **Time Decay:** Like all options, One Touch options are subject to time decay (theta). As the expiration time approaches, the value of the option decreases, even if the price moves favorably.
- **Volatility:** While volatility *can* trigger a One Touch option, it also introduces unpredictability. A sudden spike followed by a rapid reversal can lead to losses.
- **Broker Margin:** Some brokers may require a margin to trade One Touch options, further increasing the risk. Understanding Risk Management is paramount.
One Touch Options Strategies
Now, let’s explore several strategies for trading One Touch options. These strategies are presented with varying degrees of complexity, suitable for different experience levels.
- 1. The Volatility Spike Strategy
This strategy leverages periods of anticipated high volatility. It's best suited for news events or economic data releases that are likely to cause significant price fluctuations.
- **Setup:** Identify an upcoming event (e.g., a major economic report, earnings announcement). Analyze the historical volatility of the underlying asset. If volatility is expected to spike, purchase a One Touch Up or Down option, depending on the anticipated direction of the initial price movement.
- **Execution:** Buy a One Touch option with a barrier price set slightly beyond the expected immediate price movement. For example, if you anticipate a positive earnings report and expect a quick jump in price, buy a One Touch Up option.
- **Risk Management:** Use a small percentage of your trading capital per trade. Set a stop-loss order (if your broker allows it) to limit potential losses. Technical Analysis can help pinpoint entry and exit points.
- **Indicators:** Bollinger Bands, Average True Range (ATR), Volatility Index (VIX).
- 2. The Range Breakout Strategy
This strategy focuses on identifying assets trading within a defined range.
- **Setup:** Identify an asset consolidating within a clear trading range. Determine the upper and lower boundaries of the range. Purchase a One Touch Up option if you believe the price will break above the upper boundary, or a One Touch Down option if you believe the price will break below the lower boundary.
- **Execution:** Select a One Touch option with a barrier price slightly above the upper range boundary (for a One Touch Up) or slightly below the lower range boundary (for a One Touch Down).
- **Risk Management:** Confirm the breakout with volume. A breakout accompanied by high volume is more likely to be sustained. Chart Patterns like triangles and rectangles are useful here.
- **Indicators:** Support and Resistance Levels, Volume, Moving Averages.
- 3. The Trend Following Strategy
This strategy utilizes established trends to identify potential One Touch opportunities.
- **Setup:** Identify an asset exhibiting a clear uptrend or downtrend. Determine the strength and duration of the trend.
- **Execution:**
* **Uptrend:** Purchase a One Touch Up option with a barrier price set above the recent swing high. * **Downtrend:** Purchase a One Touch Down option with a barrier price set below the recent swing low.
- **Risk Management:** Avoid trading against the trend. Look for pullbacks within the trend to find favorable entry points. Trend Lines and Fibonacci Retracements can help identify pullbacks.
- **Indicators:** Moving Averages, MACD, RSI. Look for confirmation from multiple indicators.
- 4. The News Trading Strategy (Modified)
While news trading is generally risky, a modified approach can be applied to One Touch options.
- **Setup:** Identify a major news event with a high potential for market impact. Analyze the potential outcomes and their likely effects on the asset price.
- **Execution:** Immediately after the news release, if the initial price reaction is swift and decisive in one direction, purchase a One Touch option in that direction. The key is to react quickly to the *initial* move.
- **Risk Management:** This strategy requires lightning-fast execution and a thorough understanding of the news event. Use a very small trade size. Economic Calendar websites are crucial for this strategy.
- **Indicators:** Real-time news feeds, price action analysis.
- 5. The Scalping Strategy (High Risk)
This strategy aims to profit from small, quick price movements. It's extremely risky and requires a high degree of skill and discipline.
- **Setup:** Monitor the market for short-term volatility. Identify assets with tight spreads and frequent price fluctuations.
- **Execution:** Purchase One Touch options with short expiration times (e.g., 5-10 minutes). Focus on capturing small price movements that trigger the barrier.
- **Risk Management:** Use extremely small trade sizes. Be prepared to accept frequent losses. Candlestick Patterns can offer clues to short-term price movements.
- **Indicators:** Real-time price charts, volume indicators.
Important Considerations and Tips
- **Broker Selection:** Choose a reputable broker with a proven track record and transparent pricing. Broker Reviews are essential.
- **Demo Account:** Practice trading One Touch options on a demo account before risking real money.
- **Capital Allocation:** Never risk more than 1-2% of your trading capital on a single trade.
- **Expiration Time:** Choose an expiration time that aligns with your trading strategy and risk tolerance. Shorter expiration times offer higher potential payouts but also greater risk.
- **Barrier Price:** Carefully consider the barrier price. A barrier price that is too far from the current price may be difficult to reach, while a barrier price that is too close may be triggered by random fluctuations.
- **Underlying Asset:** Select underlying assets that you understand and that have sufficient liquidity.
- **Stay Informed:** Keep up-to-date with market news and economic events. Financial News sources are invaluable.
- **Emotional Control:** Avoid making impulsive trading decisions based on fear or greed. Trading Psychology plays a significant role.
- **Record Keeping:** Maintain a detailed trading journal to track your results and identify areas for improvement.
Resources for Further Learning
- [Investopedia - One Touch Options](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/onetouchoption.asp)
- [Binary Options Explained - One Touch Options](https://www.binaryoptionsexplained.com/one-touch-options/)
- [Babypips - Options Trading](https://www.babypips.com/learn/forex/options-trading)
- [TradingView - Charting Platform](https://www.tradingview.com/)
- [DailyFX - Forex News and Analysis](https://www.dailyfx.com/)
- [Bloomberg - Financial News](https://www.bloomberg.com/)
- [Reuters - Financial News](https://www.reuters.com/)
- [ForexFactory - Forex Forum](https://www.forexfactory.com/)
- [FXStreet - Forex News and Analysis](https://www.fxstreet.com/)
- [StockCharts.com - Technical Analysis](https://stockcharts.com/)
- [Trading Economics - Economic Calendar](https://tradingeconomics.com/calendar)
- [Moneycontrol - Financial News](https://www.moneycontrol.com/)
- [The Balance - Investing](https://www.thebalancemoney.com/investing-4160693)
- [Corporate Finance Institute - Technical Analysis](https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/trading-investing/technical-analysis/)
- [Kim Kiyosaki - Rich Dad Poor Dad](https://www.richdad.com/)
- [Alexander Elder - Trading for a Living](https://www.amazon.com/Trading-Living-Alexander-Elder/dp/0471181669)
- [Van K. Tharp - Trade Your Way to Financial Freedom](https://www.amazon.com/Trade-Your-Way-Financial-Freedom/dp/0471398080)
- [Mark Douglas - Trading in the Zone](https://www.amazon.com/Trading-Zone-Psychology-Winning-Trading/dp/0899954025)
- [Larry Williams - How to Trade in Stocks](https://www.amazon.com/How-Trade-Stocks-Williams-Method/dp/0897931958)
- [Martin Pring - Technical Analysis Explained](https://www.amazon.com/Technical-Analysis-Explained-Patterns-Strategies/dp/0071486483)
- [John J. Murphy - Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets](https://www.amazon.com/Technical-Analysis-Financial-Markets-Murphy/dp/0735200661)
- [Greg Morris - Candlestick Charts](https://www.amazon.com/Candlestick-Charts-Explained-Greg-Morris/dp/0471420748)
- [Fibonacci Trading](https://www.fibonacci.com/trading/)
- [Bollinger Bands Explained](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bollingerbands.asp)
- [MACD Indicator](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/macd.asp)
- [RSI Indicator](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/rsi.asp)
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