The Most Important Technical Indicators for Binary Options

Technical indicators are crucial for traders to make informed decisions when trading binary options. They can analyze past and present prices and attempt to predict future market moves.

Binary options are financial instruments that allow traders to speculate on the price movement of an underlying asset, such as stocks, commodities, currencies, indexes, or the weather, without owning the asset or contracting to own it at some point. The trader predicts whether the asset's price will rise or fall from a particular level at a specific time, known as the expiry time, and chooses yes or no.

If the expectation is borne out, the trader receives a fixed payout, usually expressed as a percentage of the investment amount. If not, the trader loses the entire invested amount. This straightforward, all-or-nothing outcome is the essential point of binary options, making them appealing to traders looking for quick and precise results. However, this also means significant risk since this kind of wagering is typically found in gambling, not investing.

Why Technical Indicators Are Important for Binary Options Trading

Since binary options have a time limit and are condition-based, probability calculations play an important role in valuing these options. It all boils down to “What is the probability that the gold price of $1,220 will move to $1,250 or above in the next four hours?” Technical analysis is based on the factors that are needed to help answer that:

• Volatility: how much, and is it enough to cross the threshold or strike price?
• The direction of trends
• Timing

The tools of technical analysis help spot continued momentum or trend reversals. Let’s look at binary option technical indicators, which are best suited for this type of trading.

Wilder's DMI (ADX)

Wilder's directional movement indicators and average directional index (DI) are composed of three lines, namely ADX, DI+, and DI-, and their relative positions can be used to decipher the strength of an already identified trend. Below is the table for interpreting the DMI.

Here is an illustration, using 3M Company (MMM) stock:

Binary option positions are taken depending on the momentum and strength of the trend. The ADX can be worthwhile for binary options. It ranges from 0 to 100, with higher values indicating a stronger trend. Generally, a value above 25 suggests a strong trend, while values below 20 indicate weak or no trend. Binary options traders can use the ADX to determine the robustness of the prevailing trend before entering a trade.

For instance, when a rising ADX indicates a strong upward trend, a trader might buy a call option, betting that the price will continue to increase. Conversely, in a strong downtrend, signaled by an increasing ADX, a trader might buy a put option, anticipating further price declines.

Moreover, the relationship between the DI+ and DI- lines can provide more insight. A crossover can signal the potential for a market reversal. For instance, if the DI+ crosses above the DI-, this suggests an upcoming bullish trend, which could prompt a trader to buy a binary call option. Conversely, if the DI- crosses below the DI+, it could indicate a bearish trend and that a binary put option is worthwhile.

However, as with the other tools below, traders must combine the ADX with other indicators and analysis methods since relying on only one indicator is risky in a fast-paced and often unpredictable binary options market.

Pivot Point 

Pivot points are a technical analysis tool used by traders to determine potential support and resistance levels, that is, levels at which the price of an asset is likely to move upward or downward. They are calculated using the average of the high, low, and closing prices from earlier trading sessions. Pivot points can help traders gauge market trends, whether bearish or bullish.

For binary options, pivot points can help predict whether the price will rise or fall. For instance, if the market price is above the pivot point, this is typically a bullish signal, suggesting it's a good time to consider buying a binary option that predicts that the asset will be above that pivot point. Conversely, if the market price is below it, that's a bearish signal in the opposite direction.

Timing is crucial for binary options since they have a fixed expiration. Traders can use pivot points to identify the best time to enter or exit trades and align their trades with the anticipated market movements suggested by the pivot points.

Commodity Channel Index (CCI)

The CCI calculates a security's price relative to the average price during any given time frame, usually the moving average. Periods can be selected as needed, allowing the trader flexibility when a binary option expires. The CCI helps identify new trends and extreme conditions when securities are poised to rise or fall.

Popular among day traders for short-term trading, the CCI should be used with additional indicators such as oscillators. In the formula, "price" is the asset's market price, "MA" is the moving average of the asset's price, and "D" is the standard deviation from that average. High values above +100 indicate the start of a solid upward trend. Values below the -100 line indicate the beginning of a strong downward trend. Here is the formula for CCI:

$\begin{aligned} &\text{CCI} = \frac { \text{Price} - \text{MA} }{ 0.015 \times \text{D} } \\ &\textbf{where:} \\ &\text{Price} = \text{asset's current price} \\ &\text{MA} = \text{moving average of asset's price} \\ &\text{D} = \text{normal deviation from moving average} \\ \end{aligned}$​CCI=0.015×DPrice−MA​where:Price=asset’s current priceMA=moving average of asset’s priceD=normal deviation from moving average​

In the binary options market, overbought conditions, indicated by the CCI rising above the +100, suggest the price is set to reverse and move lower, prompting traders to consider put options. Conversely, oversold conditions, indicated by the CCI falling below -100, suggest the price is set to bounce back and move higher, prompting the consideration of call options.

In addition, traders look for divergence between the CCI and price movement, which indicates potential reversals. If the price is making new highs but the CCI fails to surpass its previous highs, it could indicate a lack of momentum and a possible reversal.

Given the varying uses of the CCI, traders should remember to backtest the indicator on the underlying asset to determine how the asset behaves, either trending or mean reverting, and utilize the CCI accordingly. Indeed, the CCI's versatility allows it to fit into various trading strategies. Still, it should not be used in isolation due to the inherent risks of trading and the potential for false signals.

Stochastic Oscillator

George Lane, the stochastic oscillator’s creator, has said that “it follows the speed or the momentum of price. As a rule, the momentum changes direction before price.” This indicates extreme cases of overbuying and overselling, helping the trader to find reversals for bullish and bearish phases. The crossover of %K and %D below indicates trade entry signals. Although a 14-day period is standard, binary option traders can use the time frames they need.

$\begin{aligned} &\text{\%K} = 100 \left ( \frac { \text{C} - \text{L14} }{ \text{H14} - \text{L14} } \right ) \\ &\textbf{where:} \\ &\text{C} = \text{most recent closing price} \\ &\text{L14} = \text{low of 14 previous trading sessions} \\ &\text{H14} = \text{highest price traded during same 14-day period} \\ \end{aligned}$​%K=100(H14−L14C−L14​)where:C=most recent closing priceL14=low of 14 previous trading sessionsH14=highest price traded during same 14-day period​

$\begin{aligned} &\text{\%D} = \text{3 period moving average of \%K} \\ \end{aligned}$​%D=3 period moving average of %K​

Levels above 80 indicate the assets are overbought, while those below 20 indicate they are oversold.

The stochastic oscillator works well when signaling potential turning points in binary options markets based on levels of the underlying asset being poised to rise or fall. Traders may consider entering a put option when the indicator shows overbought conditions (above 80) and a call option when it suggests it's oversold (below 20).

Traders can also search for crossovers between the %K and %D lines, which signal potential market moves. For instance, a crossover of the %K line above the %D line in an oversold area can be a signal to buy a call option, while a crossover below the %D line in an overbought area signals a put option.

In addition, when the price of an asset has a new high or low and the stochastic oscillator doesn't reach a new high or low simultaneously, this indicates a divergence and a potential reversal. This is a strong signal in binary options trading to choose a call or put option against the trend.

Bollinger Bands 

John Bollinger developed Bollinger Bands (BB) in the 1980s. They consist of three lines: the middle band, a simple moving average (the default setting is usually 20), and two outer bands that are standard deviations away from the middle band (typically two standard deviations). The BB expands and contracts based on market volatility, and broader and narrower bands indicate increasing and decreasing volatility, respectively.

Bollinger Bands can be particularly useful in binary options trading to identify overbought or oversold conditions. However, they are not used in the same manner as traditional overbought or oversold indicators. Instead of searching for a specific value, as with oscillators, traders look at how the price relates to the bands.

The asset might be overbought when the price touches or closes above the upper BB. However, this signal should not be taken on its own. Traders should confirm the signal before placing a position on a binary option. Conversely, the asset might be oversold when the price touches or closes below the lower BB. Again, traders typically wait for extra confirmation before buying the binary option, expecting the price to return toward the middle band.

Sometimes, traders use BBs to gauge the strength of a breakout. For example, a price movement that begins at one band and rapidly moves toward the opposite band indicates a strong, continuing trend. With binary options, this could signal a chance to trade in the breakout’s direction.

Traders should also look for the “Bollinger Band squeeze.” This is observed by bands coming close together, which can signal a significant price movement coming. Traders might use this as a cue to prepare for a trade, expecting volatility to increase and the price to make a decisive move in either direction.

Indeed, traders should also consider how prices tend to return to the middle band after touching the outer BB bands, which can be used as a trading signal for binary options. They might place trades expecting the price to revert to the average, particularly in a ranging market.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Technical Analysis Indicators

While these indicators are widely used across various asset classes, they come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages

• Identifying trends: Technical indicators can signal whether a market will continue its trend or reverse direction.
• Signal generation: Many technical indicators are used to develop buy and sell signals through crossovers, divergences, and other patterns.
• Risk management: Indicators can provide clear markers for setting stop loss or take profit levels, helping to protect investments from significant losses.
• Market psychology: Technical analysis indicators can help discern possible future movements based on the collective actions and sentiments of market participants.
• Versatility: Technical indicators can be applied to a wide range of markets and time frames.
• Objectivity: They provide an objective basis to analyze the market, which can help keep emotions in check.

Disadvantages

• Lagging: Many technical analysis indicators are based on past data. While they can indicate trends, they might not accurately predict future movements, especially in fast-moving or highly volatile markets.
• False signals: These can arise from the influence of random price fluctuations or unusual market conditions, leading to potential losses.
• Overreliance: There is a risk of ignoring broader market conditions or fundamental changes in the asset while relying only on the indicators, which can't provide a complete picture.
• Complexity and overfitting: Some indicators can be challenging to apply correctly, especially for novice traders. They might also do well with past data but fail to predict future changes well.
• Need for confirmation: Traders usually need to use several indicators for confirmation, which can complicate the analysis.
• Subjectivity: Despite their objective nature, in most instances, the interpretation of indicator signals can be subjective and vary from one trader to another, sometimes leading to inconsistent trading results.

The Bottom Line

The technical indicators discussed here should be used for timely actions with constant monitoring. A significant disadvantage of technical indicators is that the results and calculations are based on past data and can generate false signals. Traders should practice caution with detailed backtesting and thorough analysis of high-risk, high-return assets like binary options.