CMC Markets Merges Investing and CFD Trading Into One Account

CMC Markets now lets retail clients hold shares and trade derivatives through a single account, ending the separation between its investing and CFD products.

The FTSE 250-listed broker announced the multi-asset platform on Monday, bringing together equity investing and derivatives trading under one roof. Clients can now access more than 12,000 global shares and ETFs at zero commission, with no platform or holding fees — while keeping access to CFDs and options through the same login.

A 0.5% foreign exchange conversion fee applies to international transactions, which is a standard cost to watch for if you trade US or European stocks from a GBP-denominated account.

What Changed and What It Costs

Zero-commission investing was already a baseline expectation in the UK retail market, so CMC’s pricing matches what platforms like Trading 212 and Freetrade have offered for some time. The meaningful change here is the bundling: traders who previously needed separate accounts for long-term equity positions and short-term CFD exposure can now manage both from one place.CMC also confirmed it is cutting commissions to zero on UK and European share CFDs — with Greece excluded. Vaughn Affonso, Co-Head of Dealing, said the move lets clients “trade more efficiently” and manage capital across outright positions and leveraged products without switching platforms or incurring additional costs.

CMC Invest Is Effectively Retired

Monday’s launch closes the book on CMC Invest as a standalone product. Launched in October 2022 as a deliberate push away from CFD dependency, CMC Invest had its own brand identity and was explicitly designed to operate separately from the derivatives business. That separation no longer exists — the investing functionality has been folded into the main platform rather than kept as a distinct offering.

Chris Cheverall, Head of UK at CMC Markets, described the logic plainly: clients can now hold Nvidia shares as a long-term position and trade the same market with leverage through CFDs, all within a single account.

The Broader Roadmap: Super App Still on the Horizon

Monday’s launch is the first of three phases CMC outlined last November. The end goal is a “Super App” combining traditional finance with tokenised assets, stablecoins, DeFi products, ISAs, and SIPPs on one platform. No public date has been set for the later phases.

CMC has been building toward this infrastructure. In May 2025, the broker raised its stake in blockchain firm StrikeX Technologies from 33% to 51%, securing control over the company’s Web3 technology. The firm also expanded operationally, opening a new office in Warsaw later in the year.

The company’s partnership with Revolut, struck in mid-2024, is worth noting in this context — CMC already distributes CFD access through the neobank’s app, giving it exposure to a younger, mobile-first audience that this platform evolution appears designed to serve.

Shares Dipped at the Open Despite the News

CMC Markets shares fell more than 2% at the London open on Monday, pulling back to around 330 pence after reaching 345 pence on Friday — the stock’s highest level since late 2024. The dip came despite what the company will consider a positive product milestone.

The sell-off should be viewed against the backdrop of a strong recent run. CMC shares surged more than 40% following its November 2025 results, which included first-half pre-tax profit of £49.3 million on net operating income of £186.2 million. At the time, the company also raised its full-year outlook by 10%. The market’s reaction on Monday suggests some investors may be taking profits rather than reading the platform launch as a fresh catalyst.

Key Takeaways

• CMC Markets has merged its investing and CFD products into a single multi-asset account for retail clients.
• Access to over 12,000 shares and ETFs is now commission-free, with no platform or holding fees.
• Share CFD commissions on UK and European markets have been cut to zero, Greece excluded.
• The launch is the first phase of a three-stage roadmap that ends with a DeFi-integrated “Super App.”

CMC Markets’ push into physical bullion through its Singapore entity is another piece of the same expansion story — the broker is simultaneously broadening its product range beyond CFDs on multiple fronts. Read more: CMC Markets Moves Toward Physical Bullion Market, Seeks Regulatory Approval in Singapore

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Always conduct your own research before making trading decisions.