CMC Markets is an LSE-listed broker offering around 10,000 instruments across its web platform, MetaTrader 4 and 5, and TradingView.
Spreads from
0.6 pips
Commission
$0 (spread-only)
Min deposit
$0
Established
1989
Regulated by
FCA · BMA (Bermuda) · ASIC · BaFin · MAS (Singapore) · CIRO (Canada) · FMA (New Zealand)
Written byLaverlane Team·Updated6 Oct 2026
Researched with AI assistance and verified by our editors
Regulation
CMC Markets serves international clients through a Bermuda-licensed entity.
CMC Markets Bermuda Limited is licensed to conduct investment business and digital asset business by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Two UK companies, CMC Markets UK plc and CMC Markets Services Limited, act as paying agents for the Bermuda entity. The wider group also holds licences in other regions, so traders should confirm which entity their client agreement names.
Key facts
CMC Markets has operated for more than 35 years and is listed in London.
Client-facing entity
CMC Markets Bermuda Limited
Regulators
FCA, BMA (Bermuda), ASIC, BaFin, MAS (Singapore), CIRO (Canada), FMA (New Zealand)
Restricted countries
US, BE, North Korea
Negative-balance protection
Yes
Minimum deposit
$0
Max leverage (UK/EU retail)
1:30
Max leverage (offshore entity)
1:200
Max leverage (Australia)
1:30
Typical EUR/USD spread
0.5 pips
Platforms
MT4, MT5, Proprietary, TradingView
CMC Markets was founded in 1989 and is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker CMCX. Peter Cruddas is the founder and chairman. When we checked in October 2026, the company said it served more than 1.7 million traders and investors from 12 offices worldwide.
Best for
Pros & cons
Fund safety
The public pages say little about client money and compensation.
CMC Markets states that retail clients have negative balance protection. The main international pages do not describe client money segregation or a statutory compensation scheme for the Bermuda entity, so traders should read the client agreement of their contracting entity before depositing.
Account terms
CMC Markets charges an inactivity fee after one year.
CMC Markets charges £10 per month, depending on account currency, on accounts with no trading for one year. Full account terms are set out in the legal documents for each platform, which clients should review before opening an account.
Costs
Costs depend on the account type and the instrument.
CMC Markets advertises spreads from 0.0 pips on its FX Active account, with a commission of $2.50 per $100,000 traded. Standard CFD accounts earn through the spread. Overnight financing applies to positions held open, and spread tables for individual instruments are shown on the CMC Markets website.
| Instrument | Asset class | Typical spread | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Forex CFD | 0.5 | pips |
| GBP/USD | Forex CFD | 0.9 | pips |
| USD/JPY | Forex CFD | 0.7 | pips |
| US 500 (S&P 500) | Index CFD | 0.5 | points |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | Commodity CFD | 0.2 | $ / oz |
| US Crude Oil | Commodity CFD | 2.5 | $ / bbl |
Spreads shown are typical, not guaranteed, and widen during volatile sessions or outside main market hours. Figures reflect the broker's standard retail account.
Markets
CMC Markets offers around 10,000 instruments on its web platform.
Forex CFD
300 pairs
Index CFD
Commodity CFD
Metals, energies, softs
Real ownership: Stocks / ETFs
N/A for this broker, CFDs only
The CMC Web Platform lists around 10,000 instruments across forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, and rates and bonds, with 300+ forex pairs. MetaTrader 5 offers around 2,220 instruments and MetaTrader 4 about 220. Cryptocurrency CFDs are available.
Platforms
Platform choices include the CMC Web Platform, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and TradingView.
CMC Markets offers its proprietary CMC Web Platform with integrated TradingView charts, MetaTrader 4 with Expert Advisor support, and MetaTrader 5. Traders can also use TradingView to open and manage trades directly. Mobile apps are available for iOS and Android.
Execution
CMC Markets publishes selected execution statistics.
Based on figures the broker had published when we checked in October 2026, CMC Markets reports a 99.29% fill rate at the quoted price and a median MetaTrader 4 execution time of 0.018 seconds. These are the broker's own figures and aren't independently verified. These are the broker's own figures and are not independently verified. Guaranteed stop-loss orders are available for an added premium.
Leverage
Maximum retail leverage is 1:200 for international clients.
CMC Markets lists maximum retail leverage of 1:200 for international clients on its CFD and FX Active accounts, equal to a 0.5% margin requirement. Leverage for UK, EU and Australian clients is capped at lower regulatory limits.
Account types
CMC Markets offers a Standard CFD account and an FX Active account.
| Account | Min deposit | Commission | Swap | Spread | Demo | Islamic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard CFD | $0 | Spread-only | Variable overnight financing | From 0.6 pips · Variable | Not stated | Not stated |
| FX Active | $0 | $2.5 per lot | Variable overnight financing | From 0 pips · Variable | Not stated | Not stated |
The Standard CFD account earns through the spread, while the FX Active account offers spreads from 0.0 pips on six major pairs with a $2.50 commission per $100,000 traded. Both accounts list a $0 minimum deposit, and micro lot trading from 0.01 lots is available.
Funding
Funding details are limited on the main public pages.
The main international pages do not set out deposit and withdrawal methods, fees or processing times in detail. Traders should check the funding section of their account for the options and timings that apply to their country.
Support
Support runs 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday.
CMC Markets offers support by phone, email and live chat, and lists lines open 24 hours Monday to Friday. Support is available in languages including English, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Arabic, French, Spanish and Turkish. The Knowledge Hub and Learn Hub provide self-service information.
Availability
CMC Markets does not serve residents of the US and Belgium.
CMC Markets states that its CFD services are not available to US residents and are not directed at residents of Belgium. Availability in other countries depends on the contracting entity and local rules.
Verdict
CMC Markets offers a broad multi-asset catalogue and several platform choices, backed by a long operating history and a London Stock Exchange listing. International clients contract with its Bermuda entity, so traders who rely on UK or EU investor protection should check which entity serves them.
CMC Markets fits traders who prioritise instrument coverage and platform choice. If statutory compensation and Tier-1 regulation of the contracting entity matter most, check the entity named in your client agreement first.
Multi-asset traders, technical analysts and EA users who want access to both MetaTrader and a proprietary platform will benefit most.
FAQ
CMC Markets is a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker CMCX. Peter Cruddas is the founder and chairman and holds a significant stake in the company. The group serves international clients through CMC Markets Bermuda Limited.
Contact CMC Markets support, which is available 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday, and ask which provision of your client agreement applies. Request a written explanation and check how any remaining balance will be returned. Disputes can be raised through the complaints process described in your client agreement.
CMC Markets is a trading brand founded in 1989 and now listed on the London Stock Exchange. The company describes itself as having more than 35 years of experience. It offers CFDs across forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs and cryptocurrencies.
CMC Markets Bermuda Limited is licensed to conduct investment business and digital asset business by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. CMC states that retail clients have negative balance protection, so they cannot lose more than the amount deposited. International clients should check the client agreement for details of client money handling and any compensation scheme.
CMC Markets does not state a single withdrawal time on its main public pages. Processing times depend on the payment method you use. Check the funding section of your account for the timings that apply to you.
Alternatives
Eightcap offers CFDs on 850+ markets through TradingView, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and TradeLocker, with a Raw account that starts from 0.0 pips. Clients outside the regulated regions contract with Eightcap Global Limited in The Bahamas, which carries no statutory compensation scheme.
Octa offers swap-free forex and CFD trading on OctaTrader, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, with no trading commission and a $25 minimum deposit. Accounts on octabroker.com are with Versustrategy Inc, registered in Saint Lucia, and the legal documents page lists no financial regulator.
JustMarkets offers leverage of up to 1:3000, swap-free trading and MT4, MT5 and its own app, but international clients contract with an offshore Seychelles entity without a statutory compensation scheme.
FXCM offers forex and CFD trading on Trading Station, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and TradingView. Accounts on the international website are with Stratos Global LLC, an offshore entity in St Vincent and the Grenadines that sits outside the group’s regulated companies.
ThinkMarkets offers ThinkTrader, TradingView, MT4 and MT5 with 4,000+ instruments and leverage of up to 1:500 on Standard and ThinkZero accounts. International clients contract with a Seychelles-licensed entity.
IronFX operates as a retail CFD broker providing high leverage up to 1:1000 on MetaTrader 4, but international clients contract through an offshore entity without statutory compensation protection.
CFI Financial offers MT5, TradingView and its own app with no minimum deposit and leverage of up to 1:500. International clients trade with CFI International Ltd, licensed in Mauritius.
EC Markets offers MT4, MT5 and its own app with a $10 minimum deposit on STD and ECN accounts and leverage of up to 1:1000. International clients trade with the Mauritius-licensed entity.
General CFD risk warning
CFDs are complex leveraged products and carry a high risk of rapid losses. They do not give you ownership of the underlying asset. Depending on your jurisdiction, broker entity and client classification, protections such as leverage limits and negative-balance protection may differ or may not apply. Where negative-balance protection is not provided, losses may exceed the funds you deposit. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford the high risk of losing your money.
Disclaimer
This page is provided for general information only. Nothing on this page constitutes investment, tax or trading advice, or a recommendation to open an account or trade with a particular broker. Laverlane does not provide personalised investment advice. We are not a broker or financial institution, we do not arrange or execute trades, and we do not hold client funds.
Broker availability, spreads, fees, leverage, products and legal protections, including compensation schemes and negative-balance protection, vary by the broker’s legal entity, your country of residence and your client classification, and may change over time. Where a broker is required to publish its retail CFD loss rate, that figure is shown on its review page. Spreads shown are typical figures as at our verification date; they are not guaranteed and may widen, particularly during volatile market conditions.
Laverlane Scores reflect the information available at our most recent review. They are editorial assessments, not guarantees of a broker’s financial strength, reliability or future performance. Where we report a regulator warning or enforcement notice, it reflects the official public information available at the time of our review.
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