Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Free EbookNavigating risks amid volatile marketsManaging Volatile Market Risks

Index trading

Trade on over 80 cash and forward global indices based on the FTSE 100 and more, with leverage, on our award-winning spread betting and CFD platform*. Enjoy tight spreads, ultra-fast execution, and UK-based customer service whenever the markets are open.

FCA regulated

Protected up to £85,000**

FTSE-listed group

2023 No.1 Web-based Platform *

2022 No.1 Platform Technology*

2021 Best Spread Betting Provider*

Most popular indices

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

More than an index trading platform

Your favourites in one place

Trade on over 80 cash and forward indices based on FTSE 100 and dozens of other global markets.

Trade out of hours

Favourites like the UK 100 and US 30 trade 24/5, so you don't have to stop when the markets do.

No partial fills

All orders are fully executed without dealer intervention, regardless of your trading size.

Precision pricing

We combine multiple feeds from tier-one banks, to get you the most accurate bid/ask price.

Dedicated customer service

UK-based, award-winning service online 24/5, whenever you're trading.

Exclusive products

Get broader access to the market in a single position with our exclusive share baskets.

Trade on over 80
indices

Trade on more 80 stock index instruments based on the FTSE 100 and regional indices from Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the US.

MOST POPULAR

InstrumentMin spreadPriceDayWeekTrendHolding Cost (Buy)Holding Cost (Sell)Margin
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE

EUROPEAN

InstrumentMin spreadPriceDayWeekTrendHolding Cost (Buy)Holding Cost (Sell)Margin
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE

US

InstrumentMin spreadPriceDayWeekTrendHolding Cost (Buy)Holding Cost (Sell)Margin
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE

ASIAN/AFRICA

InstrumentMin spreadPriceDayWeekTrendHolding Cost (Buy)Holding Cost (Sell)Margin
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE

SHARE BASKETS

InstrumentMin spreadPriceDayWeekTrendHolding Cost (Buy)Holding Cost (Sell)Margin
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE
---------TRADE

Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

Exclusive to CMC

Unlock your potential with CMC Alpha
Financial times logo

Unlock your potential

With our new premium membership, CMC Alpha, you'll join a community of like-minded traders who receive all these benefits (and more).

  • Save from 5% to 40% on spreads^
  • Free Financial Times subscription
  • Priority customer service
Discover ALPHA

WATCH VIDEO

Look for opportunities with ShareBaskets
ShareBaskets Logo

Looking for an opportunity?

We've analysed the trends driving the market and grouped shares into topical buckets like Driverless Cars or Renewable Energy, to allow you to trade across a trending theme with a single position.

The platform built for
index trading

Accurate signals, exclusive insights, and fast execution are crucial when you spread bet or trade CFDs on indices. Our award-winning trading platform was built with the successful index trader in mind.

Pattern recognition scanner

We automatically scan over 120 of our most popular instruments every 15 minutes for emerging and completed chart patterns, such as wedges, channels and head & shoulders formations, and overlay them on to your charts to alert you to potentially emerging trends.

Learn more about our trading platform

Advanced order execution

We offer a range of advanced order types, including trailing and guaranteed stop losses, partial closure, market orders and boundary orders on every trade, so you have the flexibility to trade your way.

Reuters news and analysis

Keep your finger on the pulse with Reuters news and market commentary from our global analysts.

Industry-leading charting

Choose from over 115 technical indicators and drawing tools, more than 70 patterns and 12 in-built chart types.

Platform Android

Powerful trading on the move

Packed with advanced features, yet intuitive and available to all; whatever the next step in your trading journey, our platform is ready to help you get there.

And if you need to trade on the go, our powerful mobile app gives you all the functionality of our web platform in your pocket.

30+ years. 1 million+ global traders and investors.

As a financial services pioneer we've got the expertise allied to more than 33 years' industry experience. That's why over 1 million global traders and investors put their confidence in us.

FCA regulated

Protected up to £85,000

FTSE-listed group

2023 No.1 Web Platform *

2022 Best CFD Provider*

2022 Best Mobile Trading Platform*

Podcast

Jack
Schwager

EPISODE #26

Opto Sessions

Jack Schwager,
renowned author of the Market Wizards book series, reveals a major misconception in investing.

Listen now

Ready to find your flow?

Start trading with a live account or try a demo with £10,000 of virtual funds.

FAQs

New to CMC Markets?

Is it free to open an account?

There's no cost when opening a live spread betting or CFD account. You can also view prices and use tools such as charts, Reuters news or Morningstar quantitative equity reports, free of charge. However, you will need to deposit funds in your account to place a trade. You can find out more about the costs of placing a trade.

Is CMC Markets regulated by the FCA?

Yes, CMC Markets UK plc (registration number 173730) and CMC Spreadbet plc (registration number 170627) are fully authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. Retail client money is held in segregated client bank accounts and money held on behalf of clients is distributed across a range of major banks, which are regularly assessed against our risk criteria.

Is CMC Markets covered by the FSCS?

Yes, your eligible deposits with CMC Markets are protected up to a total of £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensations Scheme (FSCS), the UK's deposit guarantee scheme. If CMC Markets ever went into liquidation, retail clients would have their share of segregated money returned, minus the administrator's costs in handling and distributing these funds. Any shortfall of funds up to £85,000 may be compensated under the FSCS.

How does CMC Markets protect my money?

As a CMC client, your money is held separately from CMC Markets' own funds, so that under property, trust and insolvency law, your money is protected. Therefore your money is unavailable to general creditors of the firm, if the firm fails.

How does CMC Markets make money?

Our income primarily comes from our spreads, while other fees, such as overnight holding costs, make a minor contribution to our overall revenue.

We never aim to profit from our clients' losses. Our aim is to build long-term relationships by providing the best possible trading experience through our technology and customer service.

What can I trade on with CMC?

You can trade on 12,000 markets when you spread bet with CMC Markets. See a list of all our popular markets and instruments.

New to index trading?

What are indices?

Indices are a measure of a section of shares in the stock market, created by combining the value of several stocks to create one aggregate value. Learn more about indices

How can you trade on indices?

You can start trading on indices now by opening a live account. If you would like to practise your index trading strategy first, open a demo account to trade with virtual funds.

What is leveraged trading?

One of the advantages of spread betting and CFD trading is that you only need to deposit a percentage of the full value of your position to open a trade, known as trading on leverage. Remember, trading on leverage can also amplify losses, so it’s important to manage your risk.

Why spread betting?

Spread betting allows you to trade tax-free on a wide range of financial markets 24 hours a day, from Sunday nights through to Friday nights. Trade on your phone, tablet, PC or Mac on a wide range of instruments using leverage. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and can change or may differ in a jurisdiction other than the UK.

How does spread betting/trading CFDs on indices actually work?

When you spread bet or trade CFDs on indices on our platform, you don’t buy or sell the underlying index. Instead, you’re taking a position on whether you think the index will go up or down.

With spread betting, you buy or sell an amount per point movement for the index instrument you’re trading, such as £5 per point. This is known as your stake. With CFD trading, you buy or sell a number of units for a particular instrument. For every point or unit that the price moves in your favour, you gain multiples of your stake, and vice versa.

While you can trade on leverage, your profits and losses are based on the full value of the trade. As a retail client, you will never lose more than the amount in your account.

See our full list of major global indices​.

*Awarded No.1 Web Platform and No.1 Most Currency Pairs, ForexBrokers.com Awards 2023; No.1 Platform Technology, ForexBrokers.com Awards 2022; Best CFD Provider, Online Money Awards 2022; Best Mobile Trading Platform, ADVFN International Financial Awards 2022; Best In-House Analysts, Professional Trader Awards 2022; Best Spread Betting Provider, City of London Wealth Management Awards 2021.
**FSCS is an independent body that offers protection to customers of financial services firms that have failed. The compensation amount may be up to £85,000 per eligible person, per firm. Eligibility conditions apply. Please contact the FSCS for more information.
^Max discount in tier. Discounts are based on our tiered-volume discount scheme and are variable per product. View our CMC Price+ page for more details.
T&Cs apply. 'FT' and 'Financial Times' are trademarks of The Financial Times Limited
1.388 million unique user logins for the CMC Markets invest and CFD platforms globally, as at August 2023.

burger-close