Review: HighLow Binary Options - a Mixed Feelings Trading Experience

Powered by Markets Pulse, one of the leading binary options trading software providers, the Australian HighLow binary options broker was established in 2013 and is owned by Realtime Capital Markets. The company is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC ).

As a relative newcomer to the binary options stage, HighLow offers quite a limited package of assets for trading. With only 9 currency pairs available at present, the broker is unable to supply the demand for more "exotic" assets. On the other hand, traders who want to keep a simple and straightforward approach towards the market will find HighLow very much to their liking.

The site lacks the eye candy that some of the competition seems to focus on. You will not see any smiling faces and the home page exhibits an asset, option type and chart emphasis. The black and orange colors supplement each other, giving it a very business oriented look. This of course can have positive as well as negative effects.

On the plus side, the software is very easy and intuitive to use and will attract traders who know what they need in order to make money from binary options.

Those who have yet to reveal their trader potential, however, will probably look for a website offering them even the slightest hint of educational materials in order to get started. The lack of such materials is in part compensated by the QuickDemo feature, making it possible to start trading with the second click on the website without the tiresome registration.

In terms of types of options available, HighLow offers basically two types of binary options - digital or high/low and on demand or turbo. These are separately available with a certain spread applied, which are in turn accorded with a higher payout. The KISS or "Keep It Simple, Stupid!" principle seems to apply here as well. The payouts are up to 80% for the digital and turbo options and 100% for those with the spread applied.

The high/low options on offer are 15 minute, hourly and daily, with the expiry times clearly visible. It is interesting to note that 15 minute options have an expiry point every 5 minutes, which in fact means that they can be traded as 5 or even as low as 2 minute digital options. Intraday or day traders will find this flexibility very useful. However, this means that only day traders may find what they are looking for. Long-term options are not available.

The term retail brokerage can best describe HighLow, since both the minimum deposits and investments are $10. Nevertheless, depositing only $10, is not recommended as it contradicts all good investment practices.

HighLow is currently offering a cashback on the first $50 traded, meaning that if you lose $50 or less from your real account, the money will be returned to you on condition that you sign up before December 31st, 2014.

Conclusion

All things considered, the site seems to be focused on attracting a specific group of traders who have a clear idea of what they need, as well as those who want the 'here and now' experience of binary options. At any rate, this may be the wrong approach for traders who think trading is a marathon rather than a sprint.