Demystifying digital options

The digital option is the simplest of all derivatives contracts. At maturity, it either pays out if a certain condition is met or pays out zero if it is not met. Guus Oonincx explains the role digital options play in structured products

digital-horizon

The digital is the closest traded option that resembles an ordinary bet. "Do you want to bet, for a keg of beer, that it is going to rain tomorrow?" This bet pays out nothing or a keg of beer, depending on the rain event taking place or not.

Digital options are embedded in a large portion of structured products issued by banks, including autocallable and yield optimisation notes, and reverse convertibles. The digital option is characterised by a jump in payoff, or a discontinuous payoff based on

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