We're here to help

Browse our FAQs and get the answers you are looking for.

CFD trading

Trading queries
Can I access the platform when I go abroad?

Yes, you should be able to access the platform and mobile apps when travelling abroad, providing you have sufficient network connection or are connected to Wi-Fi.

If you are using our iOS iPhone app, the Geo-Restriction functionality in place means you can only access your account if you are physically located in one of our licensed permitted countries listed below:

Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Belgium, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China mainland, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritius, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom.

Unfortunately, this is not something we can affect as this restriction is a requirement from Apple. However, we do offer a few solutions:

  • You should still be able to access the platform from a computer browser or an Android device.

  • You can call us so we can trade on your behalf if needed

How can I apply a guaranteed stop-loss order to my trade?

Within the deal ticket, select 'Stop Loss' and then click on the arrow below 'Regular' on the right-hand side of the deal ticket. Then select 'GSLO' (guaranteed stop-loss order). Proceed to enter your stop loss amount as you would with a regular stop.

There is a minimum distance at which GSLOs will be placed, and a premium attached. This information can be found within the product overview for the relevant product.

Why has my stop loss not executed?

If you're currently long (with a buy position), make sure you're looking at a sell chart (you can change the chart type at the top of the chart itself). If you're short (with a sell position), make sure you're looking at a buy chart. If you still feel the stop loss should have been executed, please contact our Client Management team immediately.

Does the premium get refunded if I don’t use my GSLO?

If you remove a guaranteed stop-loss order (GSLO) from an open position, convert it to a regular or trailing stop-loss order, or close out the position yourself, we will refund your account with the full GSLO premium charge. An additional GSLO premium is not required to modify an existing GSLO.

Can I open more than one trade on the same product?

Yes, you can. Click on the 'Accounts' tab and then 'Positions' on the trading platform to see your separate positions, or an amalgamated total with your average entry price.

We offer CFDs on a large number of FX pairs and they can all be traded through the same platform. We don't, however, offer physical FX trading.

Why is ‘position increasing’ or ‘shorting’ not allowed on a particular product?

Sometimes you will be unable to buy or sell a product on the platform. There could be a number of reasons for this, but typically, it's when the regulator imposes restrictions or there's a lack of liquidity in the market.

To list CFD shares on our platform, a number of parameters need to be met. If the parameters are not met, then we may not allow clients to buy/sell at that given time.

Why and how does the minimum distance on a GSLO change?

Our Risk Management team determines the minimum distance for GSLOs on specific products, depending on market volatility and risk preference of that product on the day.

How is the GSLO premium calculated?

The premium charged for GSLOs will vary by product and depend on your trade size. The estimated cost will be displayed on order tickets before you agree to apply a guaranteed stop-loss order to a position, and will automatically be deducted from your cash balance once you have confirmed the GSLO. The premium is refunded in full if the GSLO is not triggered. Learn how we calculate our GSLO premiums.

Do you offer "One Cancels the Other" (OCO) orders?

Yes, but we don't call them OCO orders. You can set up Stop Loss and Take Profit orders for every trade, as all orders are automatically linked together. If you close your trade or the Stop Loss or Take Profit order is triggered all other linked orders will be cancelled.

Charges
What are carrying costs?

CMC Markets products are priced with reference to underlying assets. Investing directly in such assets carries an associated cost of physically holding those assets for a period of time. For instance, if you buy futures on crude oil, someone has to store that oil until the delivery date. The carrying cost represents the cost involved in holding an asset. The carrying cost is only applicable to trades on the following product types: Commodities and currencies.

Where does your holding cost on FX come from?

The holding rate used when calculating the applicable holding costs on FX comes from the tom-next rate, which is based on the difference between the two currencies’ interest rates, with an additional 1% CMC Markets charge added.  Learn more about holding costs.

Am I charged commission for trading shares?

Commission is only applicable for share trading on a CFD account. It's taken out of the cash balance on your account at the open and the close of a position. Learn more about our commission charges.

What are the costs that I need to be aware of?

The list of costs and charges below is not exhaustive.  Please see our CFD holdings costs page for a more comprehensive explanation of our GSLO premiums, margins, etc. or refer to our FSG.

Overnight holding costs: at the end of each trading day at 5pm (New York time), any cash positions held in your account may be subject to a charge called a 'holding cost'. The holding cost can be positive or negative depending on the direction of your position. Historical holding rates, expressed as an annual percentage rate, are visible on our platform within the overview section of each product. This annual percentage is applied to the notional value of your trade when it was opened and divided by 365 for the one-night cost. Learn how we calculate CFD holdings costs.

Commission charges: when trading CFD shares on our platform, a commission will be charged to your account upon execution of any order. See our commission rates.

Market data feeds: in order to view share prices on our platform, you will need to activate the relevant market data feed for the region in which the products you wish to see are traded.

Monthly subscription charges may apply depending on your market data classification and the type of account you hold; details of the charges can be found on the platform in the ‘market data’ section in ‘user preferences’.

What should I do if I’ve calculated my profit and loss, and it doesn’t add up?

Please make sure you have taken into account any additional costs, such as overnight holding costs, the premium for guaranteed stop-loss orders, or commissions on share CFD trades.

Profit and loss on CFD trading accounts is calculated in the currency where the product is domiciled and then converted into your account currency.

How much will I be charged if I don’t trade on my account for over 12 months?

We will be charging a dormancy fee if there has been no trading activity for a continuous period of 12 months.

The fee charged is based on your account currency as follows:

Account currency

Monthly inactivity fee

AUD

15

USD

15

HKD

100

If I don’t trade on my account for 12 months, when will I be charged this fee?

The dormant account fee will normally be charged within three business days of the following calendar month after 12 months of no trade activity.

If I don’t have any funds in my account, will I still be charged?

No, you will not go into a negative balance if you do not have enough funds. Your account balance will go to zero.

How are holding costs on Forex, Gold, Silver and the Precious Metals Index calculated?

The overnight holding rate used when calculating the applicable holding costs on FX comes from the tom-next rate, which is the difference between the two currencies’ interest rates. Learn more about CFD holding cost.

Please note, you'll be charged holding costs for three days on either a Wednesday or a Thursday, depending on the currency pair, as shown in the table below.

USD/CAD, USD/TRY, TRY/CAD, CAD/TRY

All other FX pairs, FX indices, Gold, Silver, Precious Metals Index

Monday 5pm EST

x1 Holding Cost rate

x1 Holding Cost rate

Tuesday 5pm EST

x1 Holding Cost rate

x1 Holding Cost rate

Wednesday 5pm EST

x1 Holding Cost rate

x3 Holding Cost rate

Thursday 5pm EST

x3 Holding Cost rate

x1 Holding Cost rate

Friday 5pm EST

x1 Holding Cost rate

x1 Holding Cost rate

Price adjustments
How do company dividend announcements affect my trades?

If you have a buy position, for example, on a company which announces a dividend, your account will be credited/debited prior to market open on the day the stock goes 'ex-dividend'. Here's a typical example:

StarHub announces a 15cent dividend

You currently hold 3000 units of StarHub

15cent x 3000 = $450

$450 will be credited to your CFD account.

Please note that the amount you are credited or debited will be subject to the relevant tax holding rates according to the region in which the share is listed.

How will you adjust my account where I hold positions on cash indices?

When a stock goes ex-dividend, ignoring other market forces, the value of that stock effectively falls by the dividend amount. In most cases this will in turn cause the index value to drop since the value of the index is calculated from the value of the stocks within it.

The amount that the index drops is dependent on the weighting of the stock within the index. If more than one constituent stock of an index goes ex-dividend on the same day, we will add the amount of points each stock will cause the index to drop by together to calculate the total dividend amount in relation to the relevant index CFD offered by us.

How do company stock splits affect my account?

Stock splits are usually undertaken when the value of a company's stock is becoming too high. The company will essentially offer more stocks in the company but at a lower price. Here's a typical example:

You hold 300 units in company Q at a price of 1607 per share.

Q announces on R date, that it will be issuing a stock split of 5 for 1.

Hence for every 1 stock you hold you will be issued 5.

Now you will hold 1500 units at the reduced price of 321.4.

Note the overall contract value remains the same: (300 units x 1607 = 4821; 1500 units x 321.4 = 4821)

Why am I debited for a price adjustment if I am holding a short position?

As you would have benefitted from the artificial price movement at the time where in fact you shouldn’t have, the equivalent amount is debited from your account in order to offset this. Overall, you do not lose or gain anything due to this price adjustment.

How will corporate actions be applied to my positions on shares?

Price adjustments may be applied to your account where you are holding positions on relevant CFD shares or cash indices.

What are price adjustments?

In the event that a listed issuer of a security (on which you hold an open CFD position with us) announces a share sub-division or share consolidation or makes changes to its capital structure by way of rights issues, bonus issues or cash dividend payments, we will make an appropriate adjustment on the relevant listed share CFD on the ex-date or the corporate action effective day.

CMC Pro account
What is a CMC Pro account?

CMC Pro is an account for CFD traders who are looking for a provider that recognises their commitment to trading. Opening a CMC Pro account gives you access to a number of exclusive benefits, including higher leverage and cash rebates.

Check your eligibility for a CMC Pro account.

Am I eligible for a CMC Pro account?

CMC Markets Pro account holders are classified as wholesale clients. To be eligible for a CMC Pro account you must meet the “wholesale client” eligibility criteria under the Corporations Act.

Check your eligibility for a CMC Pro account.

Does it cost money to become a CMC Pro client?

There are no cost to become a CMC Pro client, but you will need to demonstrate you meet the “wholesale client” eligibility criteria under the Corporations Act.

What is the difference between a standard and CMC Pro account?

With all CMC Markets accounts you get the same access to our award-winning trading platform, wide range of instruments and advanced trading tools. The CMC Pro account will give you exclusive access to monthly cash rebates and priority perks.

Learn more about CMC Pro accounts.

What if I'm not eligible for a CMC Pro account?

If you’re not eligible for CMC Pro, you can still trade thousands of financial markets on our award-winning platform using a standard CMC Markets account.

Why do I need to open an account before I upgrade to CMC Pro?

Only clients that are new to CMC Markets will need to first open a standard CFD trading account before applying for a CMC Pro account. If you already have a CFD account with us, you can apply for a CMC Pro account - if you think you may be eligible.

Check your eligibility for a CMC Pro account.

Do CMC Pro clients get the same protections as retail clients?

As a CMC Pro client, you are not entitled to certain protections afforded to retail clients. This means CMC Markets is no longer required by law to provide you with the same rights and treatment as a retail client.

This includes:

  • We are not required to provide you with a PDS, FSG or any other document CMC is ordinarily required to give a retail client;

  • Derivatives retail client protections under s981D(2) of the Corporations Act are not available;

  • We are not required to provide you with access to our internal dispute resolution scheme. You may also be excluded from access to the external dispute resolution scheme through the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), at AFCA’s discretion.

Despite this, CMC Markets will continue to provide all relevant disclosure documents as required to be provided under the Corporations Act. CMC Markets will also hold wholesale client funds in a segregated client money trust account which meets and exceeds the requirements of the Australian Client Money Rules and ASIC Regulatory Guide 212.

Find out more about the CMC Pro account.

How will I know when I switch to a CMC Pro?

We’ll contact you by email to notify you when your application to become a CMC Pro client has been approved and you have switched over to a CMC Pro account. Your login details, account number and platform settings will remain the same.

Remember, while you are waiting for your CMC Pro account, you can still trade on your standard account.

Forex trading
How is the holding cost on FX calculated?

Holding rates for FX are based on the tom-next rate in the underlying market for the currency pair and are expressed as an annual percentage, with an additional CMC Markets charge of 1% added. To view the holding rates for individual FX pairs, please refer to the 'Product Overview' for the relevant pair.

What do you charge on converting foreign currency profit or loss into my home currency?

We convert your P&L to your home currency at our Level 1 Mid-Price plus +/- 50 basis points (0.5%)

Can I convert currencies using a CMC Markets account?

No, we do not offer currency exchange facilities.

Where do you derive your FX prices from?

Prices streamed from our liquidity providers (Seven banks and three ECNs) are consumed by our automated pricing engine where the ‘best’ and most representative price is used to create our quotes on which clients trade.

Cryptocurrency trading
What cryptocurrencies can I trade?

You can trade CFDs on a range of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin/USD, Ethereum/USD, Litecoin/USD and Dash/USD. View the full list of cryptocurrencies available to trade here.

You can also find this in the platform by navigating to "Products" and scroll to "Crypto".

How can I close or reduce an existing cryptocurrency position?

To close or reduce a position, select the red ‘Close Out’ X to bring up an order ticket. To close ‘All’ select ‘X’ on the aggregate row, or to close an individual trade select ‘X’ on the individual position row. To partially close a position, you will need to reduce the ‘Size’ of the trade. The wording at the bottom of the ticket will change to indicate that you are reducing your position rather than closing it.

Do I need a wallet to trade cryptocurrencies?

When you trade CFDs, you don't buy or sell the underlying asset, instead you trade on the rising or falling price of the cryptocurrency. You don't need a wallet to trade CFDs on our cryptocurrency products.

What are the trading hours for Bitcoin?

Monday 10am to Saturday 8am/Monday 8am to Saturday 6am.

What are blockchain forks?

Forks occur when the software of different miners disagree over the best way forward for the currency. It’s up to miners to decide which blockchain to continue using. If there isn’t a unanimous decision,  this can result in the creation of two versions of the blockchain. There can be periods of increased price volatility around such events. You can read more on blockchain forks here.

How do blockchain forks affect my account?

The price of our cryptocurrency instruments are based on the underlying market. They are made available to us by the exchanges and market-makers with which we trade. In the event of a hard fork, we will generally follow the blockchain that has the majority consensus of cryptocurrency users. We reserve the right to determine which cryptocurrency unit has the majority consensus.

Switching to CMC Markets
Why switch to CMC Markets?

Our award-winning trading platform, mobile apps and customer service, competitive pricing and more than 30 years’ experience are just some of the many reasons why clients choose to join us. High-volume traders could also be rewarded with cash rebates and a personalised service.

What do you do with customer money?

All customer funds are segregated from any other CMC Markets’ funds. We will hold an amount equivalent to your Account Value less your total minimum margin requirement in this segregated account and ensure these funds are not used for hedging or other operational purposes.

What service will I receive as a customer?

Upon opening a live account, you will receive an account manager for the first few weeks to ensure that any questions or problems you have are properly resolved. Please note that this service does not include the provision of trading or investment advice. Thereafter, you will be able to contact the Client Management Team.

ASIC Regulations
Why are there different limits for different asset classes?

The different limits reflect the different rates of volatility and liquidity common to each asset class, helping protect your position from rapid price movements. Read more about leverage ratio limits.

What is margin close out protection?

Margin close-out protection means that if the total funds in your CFD account fall below 50% of the margin required for all your open CFD positions, we will automatically begin closing your open CFD positions. This will happen as soon as market conditions allow.

We’ll keep doing this until your net equity is back above 70% of the margin required for all your remaining open positions.

What order will my positions be closed in?

The order of margin-close out protection will be dependent on the preferences you have set up on your trading account.

You can review or update your preferences by logging into your account, choosing "Account Settings" and then "Account Close Out Method".

How can I avoid a margin close-out?

There are a few ways to avoid a margin close-out.

You can:

  • Close out some of your trades.

  • Reduce the size of your position, freeing up some equity in your account.

  • Add additional funds to your account to cover any potential shortfall in margin.

What is negative balance protection?

Think of negative balance protection like a safety net that catches you if the market turns against your position too quickly for the margin close-out orders to slow your fall.

All trading carries risk, but following ASIC regulatory changes from 29 March 2021, this protection means you won’t end up owing additional money to your provider if the market turns against you. You can only lose what you have initially deposited in your account.

What if I’m a high volume trader?

If you can satisfy the Sophisticated or Wealth Test requirements, you may be eligible for additional trading benefits with a CMC eligibility for a CMC Pro account. Check your eligibility for a CMC Pro account.

Support
Support
x

Welcome to CMC Markets Support!

To begin, please select the product your query is related to.