A contract for difference (CFD) is a derivative product which enables you to trade on the price movements of underlying financial assets (such as forex, indices, commodities, shares and treasuries). It's an agreement to exchange the difference in the value of an asset from the time the contract is opened until the time it's closed. With a CFD, you never actually own the asset or instrument you're trading, but you can still benefit if the market moves in your favour, or make a loss should the market move against you. Trading CFDs involves trading on leverage, which means that you can enter a position with a set initial deposit, known as the margin requirement. It's important to remember that leverage amplifies your gains and losses in equal measure, based on the full value of the trade, and not just the initial margin amount. Learn more about CFD trading

What's the difference between investing in shares and trading share CFDs?

When investing in shares, you buy and own company shares outright, usually with longer-term investment in mind. When trading share CFDs, you don't take ownership of the underlying shares. Instead, you speculate on whether share prices will rise or fall. CFDs are leveraged products, meaning you only deposit a percentage of the total position value to open a trade.

Trade with the UK's No.1 CFD Trading Account*

Q: What are the risks with CFD trading?

The main risks associated with CFDs are trading on leverage, which means your profits and losses are amplified based on the full value of your trade, and slippage, or market gapping, which can occur in volatile markets. It's important to manage your risk carefully as part of your overall trading strategy. As a retail (non-professional) client, your account is protected by negative balance protection, which means that you can't lose more than your account value. Learn about the risks of trading CFDs

Q: Where can I find market news and insight?

Stay on top of the latest financial market news and analysis, and discover what's moving the markets, with our news and analysis section. In our platform, check out our 'Insights' section for more analysis.

Q: Is it free to open an account?

There's no cost when opening a live trading account with us. You can also view prices and use tools such as charts, Reuters news or Morningstar quantitative equity reports, free of charge. However, you'll need to deposit funds in your account to place a trade.

Q: Is CMC Markets regulated?

CMC Markets Germany GmbH is a company authorised and regulated by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). CMC Markets complies with the requirements of §84 of the German Securities Trading Act (WpHG) regarding client funds.

Q: How does CMC Markets protect my money?

CMC Markets Germany GmbH is a broker regulated by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). It holds funds of private clients separately from its own funds in separate bank accounts. In the unlikely event that CMC Markets Germany GmbH is unable to meet its financial obligations, the EdW would cover any claim for damages by claimants up to €20,000, provided that certain criteria are met.

Q: How does CMC Markets segregate client money?

Retail client money is kept in separate trust accounts. By keeping retail client money separate from CMC Markets' own funds, it ensures that retail money is not owned and cannot be used by CMC Markets, as it is held on trust for retail clients. Learn more about client money regulations.

Q: How does CMC Markets make money?

CMC Markets earns revenue through spreads and other applicable fees and charges. The fees and charges that apply may vary depending on the product and account type.

Q: What can I trade on with CMC Markets?

You can trade on financial instruments when you trade CFDs with us. Take a look at our popular markets and instruments.

EU regulated

35+ years' expertise

FTSE 250 group

2025 WINNER

Best Mobile Trading Platform

ADVFN International Financial Awards

2025 WINNER

No.1 Commissions & Fees

ForexBrokers.com Awards

2023 WINNER

Best CFD Provider

Online Money Awards

Why open a CFD trading account with us?

Trade out of hours

Aside from just a few breaks, you can trade CFDs on indices, forex, commodities and cryptocurrencies around the clock, 5 days a week.

Trade with leverage

Deposit from just 3.34% of the full value of your position to open a trade. Leverage amplifies potential profits and losses equally, so it's essential that traders understand and manage risk.

Tight spreads

Experience competitive spreads across our full range of instruments, plus low commission fees on shares.

Diverse range of markets

Trade on 21,000 instruments covering forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, rates and bonds, plus our exclusive share baskets, forex indices and commodity indices.

Trade on rising and falling markets

Take long or short positions on market movements and hedge your physical positions when prices fall.

Powerful charting tools

Gather and analyse data, with over 115+ indicators and drawing tools.

Dedicated customer service

Experienced customer service available to support you in your trading

What other traders are saying about CMC Markets

As a financial services pioneer, we‘ve got the expertise allied to over 35 years‘ industry experience. That‘s why 2 million+ global traders and investors put their confidence in us.³

User FriendUser Friendly Platform / Easy to Use / Nice charts ly Platform / Easy to Use /…User Friendly Platform / Easy to Use / Nice charts M D Khorasani,2 hours ago

great chartsgreat chartsYves Larochelle,yesterday

like numbersnumberslike numbersAlbert,2 days ago

So easy to useSo easy to use, no irritating complication like I’ve experienced on other platform, I certain that I’m sticking with them…Millie,3 days ago

I use CMC for spread bettingI use CMC for spread betting. It’s pretty easy to use. Like any leveraged trading platform, it’s easy to take a lot of risk! Easy to use,3 days ago

very easy platform quick to move around…very easy platform quick to move around user friendly easy to learn comfortable to use Yunus Luqmani,5 days ago

New hereNew here, and finding my way around and looking to the futureRobert Patterson,5 days ago

Prefect dataPrefect dataKhalil,7 days ago

Good simple to use appGood simple to use appDIPA LAKHMAN,22 October

I like it because it’s easy to trade or…I like it because it’s easy to trade or make deposit or withdraw and quick login and logout and no extra charges Afsin,22 October

How we support our traders

Build trust

With 35 years' industry experience, we're constantly evolving. CMC Markets Germany GmbH is regulated in Germany, and we adhere to the highest standards of financial practice, holding private clients' funds separately from our own funds in segregated bank accounts.

Enhanced support

You can contact our Client Management team between 8am and 6pm from Monday to Friday – email us or call +49 (0) 69 22 22 440 44.

Educational content

Our learn library contains a range of free educational resources on everything from the stock markets to CFD trading. We want to help traders understand the wider world of trading.

Powerful technology you can rely on

To trade with us, you choose a CFD account that suits the platform you want to use.

Standard CFD account provides access to our proprietary and award-winning Next Generation platform, available on PC and mobile. This account can also be linked to TradingView.

To trade on Metatrader 4, you must create a separate MT4 CFD account. This account is only compatible with MT4 and does not provide access to Next Generation or TradingView.

Note: MetaTrader 4 only offers trading in currencies, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies.

Read more below about the platforms we offer and find out which one best suits your trading style.

2025 Winner

Best-in-Class Platform & Tools

ForexBrokers.com Awards

Web platform

We've invested over £100m into our award-winning platform⁴, creating pioneering technology that suits all styles of trading.

Open a demo accountMore on our web platform

2025 WINNER

Best Mobile Trading Platform

ADVFN International Financial Awards

Mobile app

Get the functionality of our web platform in your pocket with mobile-optimised charting, full order-ticket features and real-time alerts.

MetaTrader 4 (MT4)

Trade on the world's most popular platform with our suite of free premium MT4 indicators and Expert Advisors.

Open a demo accountMore on MT4 trading

platform

TradingView

Research with TradingView, trade with us

TradingView

Connect your CMC Markets account to TradingView and trade on its world- renowned charting platform, used by over 90 million traders and investors.

Open an accountLink your account

Award-winning CFD broker

2023 WINNER

No.1 Web Platform

ForexBrokers.com Awards

2022 WINNER

Best CFD Provider

Online Money Awards

2022 WINNER

Best Mobile Trading Platform

ADVFN International Financial Awards

2022 WINNER

No.1 Platform Technology

ForexBriokers.com Awards

FAQs

New to CFD trading?

What are CFDs?

What are the risks with CFD trading?

Where can I find market news and insight?

New to CMC Markets?

Is it free to open an account?

Is CMC Markets regulated?

How does CMC Markets protect my money?

How does CMC Markets segregate client money?

How does CMC Markets make money?

What can I trade on with CMC Markets?

Do you have any questions?

Email us at eusupport@cmcmarkets.com or call us on +49 (0) 69 22 22 440 44 (Lines open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday).

¹Best Mobile Trading Platform, ADVFN International Financial Awards 2024; No.1 Web Platform, ForexBrokers.com Awards 2023; No.1 Most Currency Pairs, ForexBrokers.com Awards 2023; Best Charting (Germany), Investment Trends Leverage Trading Report 2023; Best Customer Service (Germany), Investment Trends Leverage Trading Report 2023; Best In-House Analysts, Professional Trader Awards 2023; No.1 Platform Technology (UK), ForexBrokers.com Awards 2022; Best CFD Provider (UK), Online Money Awards 2022; Industry Pioneer with "Outstanding" Customer Rating (Germany), Focus Money Test Edition 36/2022, "Very good" Trading Platform (Germany), Deutsches Kundeninstitut (DKI) Survey 2022.

²0.0040 seconds CFD and spread bet median trade execution time on CMC Markets' web and mobile platforms, 1 April 2023-31 March 2024.

³Based on over 2 million unique user logins across CMC's trading and investing platforms, including partners, as at November 2025.

⁴According to SimilarWeb data, January 2025.

Trade with an award-winning CFD provider¹

What is CFD trading?

Why open a CFD trading account with us?

What other traders are saying about CMC Markets

How we support our traders