Forex index trading
Trade CFDs on baskets of FX pairs with our forex indices. They offer a unique way to trade on a group of FX pairs which share the same base currency, such as USD, GBP and EUR, giving you exposure to multiple currencies in a single trade. Forex indices offer a benchmark overview for the international value of a currency.


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We combine multiple feeds from tier-one banks, to get you the most accurate bid/ask price.
Access execution with no partial fills on supported order types
Trade major forex pairs from 0.0 pips with an FX Active account.
Experienced customer service available in EN, FR, and ZH to support you in your trading.
CMC Markets Canada Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization and operates on an order-execution-only basis.
How do forex indices work?
Our forex indices group individual FX pairs with the same base currency to make a forex 'basket'. The indices track the underlying prices of the currency pairs within that index. If the individual forex prices in that index increase, then the value of the index will go up. Conversely, if the individual FX prices decrease, then the value of that index will fall.
Trading forex indices as opposed to individual currencies can potentially be a more cost-effective and efficient way of trading, as it allows you to take a view on one area of the forex market, without having to open a position on each FX pair. It can be a good way to diversify your portfolio; for example, geopolitical issues could affect one currency pair in the index, while the others may remain unaffected. Forex indices might also be used to hedge any unfavourable moves in a particular currency and spread your risk, through exposure to a wider range of currencies rather than just one currency pair.
It's important to be aware that CFDs are high-risk, speculative products. High volatility combined with leverage could lead to significant losses. As with any leveraged product, profits and losses are magnified as they are based on the full value of the position, not just your initial deposit on a trade. While you could profit if the market moves in your favour, you could also make a loss if the trade moves against you, particularly if you don't have adequate risk-management cover in place.
Major forex indices to trade
We offer 12 different forex indices. Each is made up of a range of currency pairs with the same base currency. So the CMC USD Index, for example, is made up of a collection of US dollar pairs. Our full range of forex indices is listed below.
Forex index details
View the spreads, margin rates and trading hours for our 12 major forex indices in the table below.
Instrument | Spread | Margin rate | Trading hours |
|---|---|---|---|
CMC USD Index | from 0.25pts | 5% | 00:00-22:00, Monday to Friday |
CMC GBP Index | from 0.3pts | 5% | 00:00-22:00, Monday to Friday |
CMC EUR Index | from 0.25pts | 5% | 00:00-22:00, Monday to Friday |
CMC AUD Index | from 0.3pts | 5% | 00:00-22:00, Monday to Friday |
CMC CAD Index | from 0.3pts | 5% | 00:00-22:00, Monday to Friday |
CMC CHF Index | from 0.3pts | 5% | 00:00-22:00, Monday to Friday |
CMC CNH Index | from 0.3pts | 5% | 00:00-22:00, Monday to Friday |
CMC JPY Index | from 5pts | 5% | 00:00-22:00, Monday to Friday |
CMC NOK Index | from 0.6pts | 5% | 00:00-22:00, Monday to Friday |
CMC NZD Index | from 0.5pts | 5% | 00:00-22:00, Monday to Friday |
CMC SEK Index | from 0.6pts | 5% | 00:00-22:00, Monday to Friday |
CMC SGD Index | from 0.3pts | 5% | 00:00-22:00, Monday to Friday |
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How our forex indices are weighted
Our forex indices were created with a base level price of 1,000 for the USD, GBP, EUR, AUD, NZD, CAD, CNH, CHF, SEK, NOK and SGD indices, and a base level price of 20,000 for the JPY index, as of 31 December 2018. The weighting of each index component is capped at 40% of the total trade volume.
INSTRUMENTS | USD | GBP | EUR | AUD | CAD | CHF | CNH | JPY | NOK | NZD | PLN | SEK | SGD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMC USD Index | 5.56 | 28.60 | 1.63 | 25.18 | 3.35 | 24.59 | 8.21 | - | - | - | - | 2.86 | |
CMC GBP Index | 21.91 | 40.00 | - | 3.26 | 3.91 | 17.90 | 2.73 | 7.94 | - | - | 2.35 | - | |
CMC EUR Index | 22.70 | 13.13 | 1.51 | 2.34 | 8.10 | 23.03 | 3.90 | 5.55 | - | 12.23 | 5.94 | 1.58 | |
CMC AUD Index | 11.20 | 1.94 | 12.51 | - | 1.39 | 40.00 | 24.91 | - | 2.66 | - | - | 5.40 | |
CMC CAD Index | 40.00 | 5.07 | 17.90 | 1.00 | 2.66 | 26.08 | 6.42 | 0.87 | - | - | - | - | |
CMC CHF Index | 23.84 | 7.05 | 40.00 | 1.44 | 3.09 | 17.41 | 3.33 | - | - | - | - | 3.86 | |
CMC CNH Index | 28.37 | 5.24 | 31.18 | 8.83 | 4.91 | 2.82 | 14.81 | - | - | - | - | 3.84 | |
CMC JPY Index | 24.94 | 2.10 | 14.55 | 11.02 | 3.18 | 1.42 | 38.97 | - | - | - | - | 3.82 | |
CMC NOK Index | 5.72 | 25.34 | 40.00 | - | 1.78 | 0.62 | 9.01 | 1.41 | - | - | 16.12 | - | |
CMC NZD Index | 14.11 | 3.06 | 12.63 | 15.45 | 1.92 | - | 39.21 | 8.77 | - | - | - | 4.83 | |
CMC SEK Index | 13.15 | 9.29 | 40.00 | 1.31 | - | 1.53 | 12.40 | 2.39 | 19.93 | - | - | - | |
CMC SGD Index | 25.37 | 3.20 | 18.05 | 6.96 | 1.01 | 4.80 | 29.48 | 11.13 | - | - | - | - |
Trade on forex indices
Our forex indices are a collection of related, strategically-selected pairs, grouped into a single basket. Trade on our 12 baskets of FX pairs, including the CMC USD Index.

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Trade on our award-winning platforms⁵
To trade with us, you choose a CFD account that suits the platform you want to use.
The standard or FXActive CFD accounts provide access to our proprietary and award-winning CMC platform, available on PC and mobile. This account can also be linked to TradingView.
To trade on Metatrader 4 or Metatrader 5, you must create a separate standard or FXActive account.
Read more below about the platforms we offer and find out which one best suits your trading style.
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Mobile app
The CMC Markets mobile app gives you access to forex markets from your phone or tablet.
Use the app to:
Monitor live prices
Place and manage trades
Access mobile-optimized charts
Set price alerts
Review open positions and account activity
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CMC platform
The CMC platform is designed for active traders who want access to charts, watchlists, order tickets, technical indicators, and risk-management features in one place.
Use the platform to:
Monitor forex pairs and other markets
Place and manage CFD trades
Access advanced charting and technical tools
Set alerts and manage watchlists
Review open positions, orders, and account performance
The platform is available on desktop and can be used alongside the CMC mobile app.
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FAQs
There isn’t a specific forex index on the market. However, we've created bespoke baskets of currency pairs, which allow you to speculate on the price movements of one currency pair against a basket of pairs. Our forex indices include the USD Index and GBP Index.
Our forex indices have a base level price of 1,000 (or 20,000 for the JPY Index), and the weighting of each component within an index is capped at 40% of the total trade volume. Learn more about forex indices
We have one forex index that’s focused on emerging currencies, our CNH Index, as well as minor currencies including the NOK, SEK, and SGD.
Client money is held in segregated accounts, in line with applicable regulatory requirements. Segregation means client money is kept separate from the firm's own money. Regulatory protection doesn't remove the risk of trading losses.
Yes, CMC Markets Canada Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). CFDs are distributed in Canada by CMC Markets Canada Inc. acting as principal.
There's no fee to open an account. Trading costs may apply when you trade, including spreads, commissions, holding costs, and other applicable charges.
CMC Markets may make money from the spread, which is the difference between the buy and sell prices. Depending on the account type and product, commissions and holding costs may also apply.
CMC Markets Canada offers access to CFDs across forex and other markets. Product availability may vary by account type, platform, and jurisdiction.

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Start trading with a live account today or try a demo with $10,000 of virtual funds. Remember that CFDs are complex instruments and carry a high degree of risk.
Do you have any questions?
Our client services team is here whenever the markets are open.
Email us at clientmanagement@cmcmarkets.ca or call us on 1-866-884-2608.