4.1.3 Settlement Method for Currency Options

The following table summarizes how currency options with different option and expiration styles are settled:

Table 4-25 Settlement Method for Currency Options

Option Style Expiration Style Exercise Method Settlement on

Plain Vanilla

American, Bermudan or European

Manual or Auto

For American expiration style:

If manually exercised - Any day between earliest exercise date and Contract maturity date (both included), if manually exercised

For auto exercise - On maturity, if the option is in-the-money

For Bermudan expiration style:

If manually exercised - On pre-defined exercise dates or on contract maturity date

For auto exercise - On maturity, if the option is in the money

For European expiration style:

Only on Contract maturity date

In all these cases, payment can be a fixed amount if such is opted for

Binary

American or European

Manual or Auto

For American expiration style:

If manually exercised - Any day between earliest exercise date and Contract maturity date (both included), if manually exercised

For auto exercise - On maturity, if the option is in-the-money.

For European expiration style:

Only on Contract maturity date

Settlement payment is always a fixed amount

Digital

European only

Manual or Auto

Only on Contract maturity date.

Settlement payment is always a fixed amount.

No Touch

European only

Auto only

Only on Contract maturity date.

Settlement payment is always a fixed amount.

Table 4-26 As per SWIFT 2023 standards, Exercise and Settlement Method for Currency Options

Option Style Expiration Style Exercise Method Exercise on Settlement on

Plain Vanilla

American, Bermudan or European

Manual or Auto

For American expiration style: manually exercised - Any day between earliest exercise date and Contract maturity date (both included)

For Bermudan expiration style: manually exercised - On pre-defined exercise dates or on contract maturity date

For European expiration style: manually exercised- Only on Contract maturity date.

For all expiration styles, auto exercise is only on maturity date, if the option is in-the-money

In all these cases, payment can be a fixed amount if pay fixed (Vanilla) is opted at the deal.

Settlement on Hit - when the option is manually exercised for an American/Bermudan/European style, it is considered as hit.

Settlement on Maturity- when the option is auto exercised for any expiration style, it is considered as maturity

Binary

Not applicable

Manual or Auto

Manually exercised- Any day before maturity or on maturity date

Auto exercised - On maturity, if the option is in-the-money

Exercise Settlement is always a fixed amount which can be paid at Hit or Maturity.

Digital Not applicable Manual or Auto

Manual Exercised- Exercise can happen on or before the maturity manually

Auto exercised- On maturity if the option is in the money

Exercise Settlement is always a fixed amount which can be paid at Hit or Maturity.

No Touch Not applicable Manual or Auto

Manual Exercised- Exercise can happen on or before the maturity manually

Auto exercised- On maturity if the option is in the money

Exercise Settlement is always a fixed amount which can be paid at Hit or Maturity.

Note:

Digital and No touch options will always behave similar to Binary.

When an option can be exercised before maturity, the possibility to settle at maturity or at hit must be specified as explained in the following table.

Table 4-27 Exercise and Settlement

Options Style Exercise Settlement Field
Vanilla American Any Time Maturity Sequence B/ 30F
Vanilla American Any Time Hit Sequence B/30J
Vanilla Bermuda Fixed Dates Maturity Sequence B/ 30F
Vanilla Bermuda Fixed Dates Hit Sequence B/30J
Vanilla European Maturity Date Maturity Sequence B/ 30F
Binary NA Any Time Maturity Sequence B/ 30F
Binary NA Any Time Hit Sequence B/ 30J

Note:

As per swift 2023 standards, Digital and No touch will behave similar to Binary.