BINARY OPTIONS ON AN ORGANIZED EXCHANGE AND THE SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRADING THE SAME

摘要

The invention relates to financial systems and methods for trading fixed return options on secondary markets such as stock exchanges. A financial system of the invention includes both an electronic order delivery and execution system and/or an on-floor trading auction, configured to provide an exchange-traded environment. The financial system also includes at least one fixed return option or binary option traded through an exchange's order delivery and execution system or on-floor trading auction, whereby such trading environment provides an open market. The system of the invention makes the trading of fixed return options or binary options possible via a unique use of the existing symbology schemes for standardized (non-binary) options, such that "Finish High" options are processed as calls, and "Finish Low" options are processed as puts, enabling these newly standardized binary options to be both recognized and accepted as standardized option contracts by existing trading, clearance, margin and settlement systems, while also enabling these options to be differentiated from additional standardized options, and appropriately segregated for different treatment than the typical standardized option forms. The system employs a novel method for calculating the closing settlement value for securities underlying fixed return options or binary options in order to maintain a fair and orderly trading environment for these instruments on an organized exchange.