CMC Markets review
CMC Markets is a publicly listed (LSE: CMCX, FTSE 250) CFD and spread betting broker founded in 1989 by Peter Cruddas, who remains CEO. It is regulated by the FCA in the UK (through CMC Markets UK plc and CMC Markets Investments Limited), ASIC in Australia, MAS in Singapore, BaFin/EU authorities in Germany, the FMA in New Zealand and CIRO in Canada, giving it one of the broadest regulatory footprints among CFD brokers. Beyond retail CFDs and UK/Ireland-only spread betting, CMC runs CMC Invest for share dealing and a sizeable institutional arm, CMC Connect, offering white-label and API market access to 150+ banks, brokerages and hedge funds. Its scale and public listing make its disclosed financials a useful benchmark against privately held competitors.
CMC Markets key facts
- Website: www.cmcmarkets.com
- Category: CFD, spread betting & share-dealing broker
- Founded: 1989
- Headquarters: London, UK
- Public status: LSE-listed (CMCX), FTSE 250 constituent
- CEO: Peter Cruddas (founder)
- Regulation: FCA, ASIC, MAS, BaFin/EU, FMA, CIRO, BMA
- Platforms: Next Generation, MetaTrader 4/5, TradingView
- Institutional arm: CMC Connect, 150+ partners
- CEO: Peter Cruddas
- FYI Score: 93.2/100 (ranked #12 of the 136 CFD brokers we track)
Regulation & licences
- UK business runs through two FCA-authorised entities: CMC Markets UK plc for CFDs and spread betting, and CMC Markets Investments Limited for share dealing (CMC Invest), both covered by FSCS protection up to £85,000 per client.
- Separately licensed entities cover Australia (ASIC), Singapore (MAS, in-principle licence obtained 2022), Germany/EU (BaFin) and New Zealand (FMA), plus CIRO in Canada.
- A Bermuda Monetary Authority licence, granted March 2025, extends its regulatory footprint further.
- £412 million in Tier 1 regulatory capital as of March 2025 reflects the scale of an exchange-listed group, a different risk profile from privately held competitors.
Spreads & fees
- Standard account EUR/USD spreads average around 1.3 pips; the Price+ active-trader programme brings that down to roughly 0.65 pips plus a $2.50 commission for high-volume clients, with tiered discounts up to 20%.
- No minimum deposit is required to open an account.
- Spread betting (UK/Ireland clients only) is a separate product from CFDs even though pricing is similar, and profits are currently treated as tax-free under UK rules.
Platforms & tools
- Next Generation, its proprietary web and desktop platform, alongside MetaTrader 4 and 5 for clients who prefer the MT ecosystem.
- TradingView charting integration gives access to a far larger instrument set (12,000+) than the native MT4 offering (176 forex pairs, 220 products).
- No built-in automated trading on the proprietary Next Generation platform; algorithmic traders need MT4/MT5 instead.
- CMC Connect API and white-label infrastructure extend the platform stack to institutional partners.
Markets & instruments
- 141 forex pairs (282 quoted both directions) and roughly 12,000 tradeable CFD instruments in total, one of the broadest ranges among CFD brokers.
- CFDs on shares, indices, commodities and treasuries, plus cryptocurrencies, with UK retail crypto CFD access restricted under FCA rules.
- CMC Invest offers real share dealing separate from the CFD business, for clients who want ownership rather than leveraged exposure.
Account types
- Retail CFD account, with Price+ tiers for active traders based on monthly volume.
- UK/Ireland-only spread betting account, run through the same FCA-regulated UK entity.
- CMC Invest share-dealing account for direct stock ownership.
- CMC Connect: institutional white-label and API access for banks, brokerages, family offices, hedge funds and dealing desks (150+ partners), a meaningfully different product line from its retail accounts.
Markets
[object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object], [object Object]
Platforms
Next Generation, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView
Who CMC Markets is for
Suits traders who want the widest possible instrument range and platform choice, including TradingView, or UK/Ireland residents who specifically want tax-advantaged spread betting alongside CFDs.
Pros
- One of the broadest regulatory footprints in the sector: UK, Australia, Singapore, Germany/EU, New Zealand, Canada and Bermuda.
- Public company with disclosed financials (LSE: CMCX), adding a layer of transparency competitors don't have.
- Very large instrument range (12,000+) via TradingView integration.
- Established institutional/white-label business (CMC Connect) is a distinct revenue line most retail-focused CFD brokers lack.
Cons
- Spreads have reportedly widened slightly year-over-year on certain pairs.
- No automated trading support on its own Next Generation platform.
- A 2025 leadership change (deputy CEO's role restructured, new non-executive chairman appointed) followed a profit miss and an 18% share-price drop, worth noting for anyone tracking corporate stability.
- Education content lacks progress tracking and video output has reportedly slowed.
CMC Markets FAQ
Is CMC Markets regulated?
Yes, across more jurisdictions than most CFD brokers: the FCA in the UK, ASIC in Australia, MAS in Singapore, BaFin/EU authorities in Germany, the FMA in New Zealand, CIRO in Canada, and the Bermuda Monetary Authority since March 2025. Different entities cover different products, so the exact protections depend on which entity onboards a given client.
Is CMC Markets a public company?
Yes. CMC Markets plc has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since February 2016 (ticker CMCX) and sits in the FTSE 250, meaning its financials are publicly disclosed.
Does CMC Markets offer spread betting?
Yes, but only to UK and Ireland clients, run through the same FCA-regulated UK entity as its CFD business. It's a separate product from CFDs even though pricing is similar.
Does CMC Markets serve institutional clients?
Yes, through CMC Connect, which offers white-label and API market access to banks, brokerages, family offices, hedge funds and dealing desks — over 150 institutional partners according to the company.
Compare CMC Markets with other CFD brokers
See all CFD brokers ranked by FYI →
Home · CFD Brokers · Brokers · Crypto · Prop firms · Prediction markets · Media · Influencers · Solutions