Regulators
FCA, ASIC, BaFin, MAS, FMA NZ, IIROC, MA Poland
Min. deposit
$0 (no minimum)
Spread from
0.7 pips (Next Generation)
Max. leverage
Up to 1:30 (EU retail) / 1:500 (Professional)
Platforms
CMC Next Generation, MT4, CMC Mobile
Founded
1989 · London, United Kingdom
CMC Markets review summary
CMC Markets is a UK CFD broker founded in 1989 — making it one of the oldest in the industry — and is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange under ticker CMCX. Its FCA-led regulatory profile, combined with ASIC, BaFin, MAS, and other tier-1 licenses, places it firmly in the same league as IG and Saxo Bank for institutional-grade compliance.
The flagship product is the Next Generation trading platform — a proprietary, browser-based system with 115+ technical indicators, advanced order types, and one of the deepest instrument lists in retail (12,000+ CFDs across FX, equities, indices, commodities, treasuries, and crypto). For traders who want exposure to obscure stocks (Asian small-caps, frontier-market equities) or treasury CFDs, CMC has the broadest coverage of any retail broker.
The Standard FX spread (0.7 pips on EUR/USD) is competitive but not ECN-tight. For pure FX scalping, IC Markets or Pepperstone are tighter. For everything else, CMC is in the top tier.
Account types
| Account | Min. deposit | Spreads | Notes |
|---|
| CFD Account | $0 | From 0.7 pips | Standard retail |
| Professional | $0 | From 0.5 pips | Qualifying clients only |
Regulation
- CMC Markets UK plc — FCA 173730
- CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd — ASIC 238054
- CMC Markets Germany GmbH — BaFin 154814
- CMC Markets Singapore Pte Ltd — MAS CMS100025
- CMC Markets NZ Ltd — FMA 41187
- CMC Markets Canada Inc. — IIROC
Bottom line
CMC Markets scores 4.5/5. Best for multi-asset discretionary traders who value regulatory robustness and platform depth. Pure FX scalpers will find tighter spreads elsewhere.
CMC Markets — Frequently Asked Questions
Is CMC Markets regulated and safe?
CMC Markets is regulated by FCA, ASIC, BaFin, MAS, FMA NZ, IIROC, MA Poland. Client funds are held in segregated accounts at tier-1 banks and the broker operates under active financial-services licenses. Verify each license number on the regulator's official website before opening an account.
What is the minimum deposit at CMC Markets?
The minimum deposit at CMC Markets is $0 (no minimum). Most account types accept this minimum; premium tiers may require higher deposits — see the account-types table above.
What are the typical spreads at CMC Markets?
Spreads at CMC Markets start from 0.7 pips (Next Generation). Actual spreads vary by account type, instrument, time of day, and market volatility. Raw/ECN accounts add a per-lot commission on top of the tighter spread.
What trading platforms does CMC Markets offer?
CMC Markets supports: CMC Next Generation, MT4, CMC Mobile. MT4 / MT5 are the industry standards; cTrader is preferred for ECN execution; proprietary platforms offer broker-specific tools but less third-party compatibility.
What is the maximum leverage at CMC Markets?
Maximum leverage at CMC Markets: Up to 1:30 (EU retail) / 1:500 (Professional). EU retail clients are capped at 1:30 by ESMA rules regardless of broker policy. Professional clients and offshore-entity clients can access higher leverage subject to qualification.
Who is CMC Markets best suited for?
Discretionary traders wanting deep instrument coverage and a sophisticated proprietary platform from a publicly-listed UK broker.