In this guide

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  • Details
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CMC Markets
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CFD service. Your capital is at risk.
General information only. All forms of investments (and in particular, trading CFDs, commodities and forex) carry significant risk, including the risk of losing more than the invested amounts, market volatility and liquidity risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Such activities are not suitable for most investors.

Our verdict

Trade 12,000+ products with competitive spreads across forex.

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Finder Awards 2024 winner

CMC Markets was founded in 1989 and is a well-established and highly trusted forex and CFD (contract for difference) trading platform. It offers access to more than 12,000 CFD instruments through its own Next Generation platform and MetaTrader 4.

With strong educational resources and demo accounts, as well as professional-level trading tools, competitive fees and advanced functionality, it's a great platform for beginners and experts alike.

Pros

  • Reputable provider. CMC Markets is a well-established broker that has been operating for more than 30 years.
  • Trading options. You can trade over 12,000 products on markets around the world.
  • Demo account. You can sign up for a demo account before you start trading with real money.
  • Multiple account types. You can choose a standard account or an FX Active account if you're an active trader.

Cons

  • CFDs are risky. Make sure you're fully aware of these risks before you decide to start trading.
  • Commissions on stock CFDs. Stock CFD commissions aren't as low as some other brokers.

In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Details
    • Product details
  • Frequently asked questions
  • Your reviews
  • Ask a question

CMC Markets is one of the world's leading trading platforms, offering a feature-rich, professional trading platform with competitive fees and low spreads.

This review is for CMC Markets CFD trading platform, which is separate to its regular share trading platform. If you were looking for more information on the basic share trading account, you can check out our review of CMC's share trading account here.

Details

Product details

Type of broker Online
Available markets 330+ global currency pairs, stock CFDs, cryptocurrency, index CFDs, bonds, commodities
Minimum Spreads for Major Currencies 0.60 - 1.80 pips
Commission $0
Minimum opening balance $0
Minimum Trade Size 0.01 lots
Leverage 1:1 - 30:1
Platforms Next Generation,
MetaTrader 4
Support Phone, email and live chat
Go to site
More Info

Finder Awards badge

Congratulations, CMC Markets!

CMC Markets received the following awards in the 2024 Product Awards:

  • 'Forex Trading Platform – Advanced Trading' - Winner
  • 'Forex Trading Platform – Commodities' - Highly Commended
  • 'Forex Trading Platform – Gold (CFD) Trading' - Highly Commended
Full list of 2024 winners

What can you trade on the CMC Markets CFD platform?

CMC Markets offers two CFD platforms - its own Next Generation platform and MetaTrader 4:

Next Generation

The CMC Markets Next Generation trading platform gives you access to more than 12,000 Australian and international CFD instruments, including:

  • 330+ forex pairs
  • 80+ indices
  • 100+ commodities
  • 10,000+ shares
  • 1,000+ ETFs
  • 50+ treasuries
  • 34 ShareBaskets
  • 20+ cryptocurrencies

MetaTrader 4

You can also trade more than 220 instruments using MetaTrader 4 (MT4), the world's most popular trading platform, including:

  • 175+ forex pairs
  • Indices
  • Commodities
  • Cryptocurrencies

Trading tools and features

CMC markets offers a range of advanced tools and functionality, including:

  • Market data. CMC Markets provides price data from markets around the world, including Canada, Germany, Switzerland, UK and US markets.
  • Fast execution. The Next Generation platform has a median trade execution time of 0.003 seconds.
  • Platform customisation. You can adjust the CMC Markets platform to suit your trading style.
  • Research. CMC Markets offers events and seminars, market reports, news and analysis.
  • Access. Placing trades through your CMC Markets trading account can be done on your desktop, over the phone or using the CMC Markets app on iPhone, iPad or your Android device.
  • Advanced order types. This includes market orders, boundary orders, partial closures and trailing and guaranteed stop-losses.
  • Award-winning charts. The platform offers more than 115 technical indicators and drawing tools with 70 chart patterns and 12 chart types.
  • Demo account. The free demo account allows you to practise trading before you commit to trading CFDs.

CMC Markets account types

You have the option of two account types: a standard CFD account or the FX Active account. Both accounts offer mobile trading, up to 30:1 leverage, hedging and come with no minimum deposit requirements.

Standard CFD account

Designed for regular traders.

Trade more than 12,000 instruments on CMC Markets' Next Generation platform or 220 instruments on MetaTrader4 with variable spreads and commissions on share CFDs and forex.

FX Active account

Designed for active FX traders.

Trade the same instruments you would normally access on either Next Generation or MetaTrader 4 platforms, with the addition of a flat low commission and FX spreads starting from 0.0 pips on 6 major pairs.

CMC Markets trading fees

There are a number of fees or costs to consider when trading CFDs and other instruments, including commissions, spreads and margins.

Given the vast range of products and markets available on CMC Markets, there's no universal trading fee you can expect to pay when using the platform.

While CMC Markets has a competitive fee structure, your trading fees could vary significantly depending on both the instrument you're trading and the market it is trading from.

We've broken down the basic fee structure for each CMC Markets account type below.

Standard CFD account

Share CFD commissions start from 0.10% or $0.02 per unit, depending on which country's market you are trading. Minimum commissions also apply and again will vary by market.

Forex spreads start from 0.5 points for EUR/USD, while indices spreads start from 1.0 points. CFD margins start from 3.3% on currency pairs and treasuries, or 5% for indices and commodities. Margins start at 20% for UK and US shares.

FX Active account

You'll pay a flat 0.0025% commission on all forex transactions, with minimum spreads of 0.0 on 6 major currency pairs. There's also a 25% reduction on spreads compared to the standard CFD account.

Other fees

If you want to access CMC Markets' price data for share CFDs, you may need to pay a monthly subscription fee.

While no fee applies when you want to access US and other international market data, a $20 fee applies to Australian market data.

Holding costs may also apply to positions that are held open at the end of a trading day.

What is CMC Markets?

CMC Markets is a publicly listed, UK-based financial service company that allows you to trade contracts for difference or foreign exchange markets from a number of countries including Australia.

Founded in 1989 and with over 1 million investors, CMC is one of the most well-established and highly regarded brokers in the world.

CMC Markets is regulated in Australia by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC).

What type of investors can use CMC Markets?

CMC Markets is primarily aimed at experienced traders, especially through its CFD trading platforms. It lets users trade a huge variety of CFD instruments, offers fast executions, advanced orders and competitive fees.

However, it also offers a number of features designed to help beginner traders, including a free demo account, educational resources and an easy-to-use interface.

Customer support

If you need assistance with a particular trade or with any aspect of your CMC Markets account, it’s easy to get in touch with CMC Markets.

Phone, email and live chat support are all available and the CMC Markets client services team is available 24 hours a day, Monday to Friday (24/5).

There are also plenty of educational resources to improve your trading knowledge. These include instructional articles and videos, trading guides, a blog, events run by market experts and much more, plus a free demo account.

How do I fund my account?

Payment type

Payment type supported

ChargeTransfer time
Direct debit (debit card)No0.6% of transaction1–2 days
Direct debit (credit card)No1% of transaction1–2 days
PayPalNo1%Instant
ChequeNoN/AN/A
CashNoN/AN/A
AMEX / DinersNoN/AN/A
Payment over the phone

Only available if your account is approaching margin call

As aboveAs above

How do I apply for a CMC Markets trading account?

To apply for a Trading Account from CMC Markets, simply click the "Go to site" link on this page to be securely redirected to an online application form.

To apply for an account you will need to provide:

  • Your name
  • Your contact details
  • Details of your financial background, trading experience trading and knowledge

Of course, it’s vital that you are fully aware of all the risks involved in trading CFDs before you sign up for an account.

Frequently asked questions

This information is general in nature and is no substitute for professional advice. It does not take into account your personal situation. This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for most investors. You do not own or have any interest in the underlying asset. Capital is at risk, including the risk of losing more than the amount originally put in, market volatility and liquidity risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Tax on profits may apply. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination for the product on the provider's website. Consider your own circumstances, including whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money and possess the relevant experience and knowledge. We recommend that you obtain independent advice from a suitably licensed financial advisor before making any trades.

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