CMC Markets UK plc
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) · Reference 173730 1
Listed as Authorised in the FCA's investment firms register, first authorised 1 December 2001.
Authorised Verified on register, 4 Oct 2026
CMC Markets
CMC Markets is a UK spread betting and CFD provider whose parent, CMC Markets plc, is listed on the London Stock Exchange. In the UK it trades through CMC Markets UK plc and CMC Spreadbet plc, both authorised by the FCA. It also serves clients through CMC Markets Germany GmbH (BaFin), CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd (ASIC), CMC Markets Singapore Pte Ltd (MAS), CMC Markets Bermuda Ltd (BMA), and companies in Canada and New Zealand.
Research-based assessment This profile has not completed TTI’s on-site verification and 30-day platform review. How TTI verification works
Verified licences
| Regulator | Licence | Legal entity | Register status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | 173730 | CMC Markets UK plc | Authorised Checked 4 Oct 2026 | Register entry for CMC Markets UK plc (opens in a new tab) 1 |
| Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | 170627 | CMC Spreadbet plc | Authorised Checked 4 Oct 2026 | Register entry for CMC Spreadbet plc (opens in a new tab) 1 |
| Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | 948126 | CMC Markets Investments Limited | Authorised Checked 4 Oct 2026 | Register entry for CMC Markets Investments Limited (opens in a new tab) 1 |
| Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) (BaFin) | BaFin-ID 10154814 | CMC Markets Germany GmbH | Authorised Checked 4 Oct 2026 | Register entry for CMC Markets Germany GmbH (opens in a new tab) 2 |
| Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) | AFSL 238054 | CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd | Authorised Checked 4 Oct 2026 | Register entry for CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd (opens in a new tab) 3 |
| Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) | No reference | CMC Markets Singapore Pte Ltd | Authorised Checked 4 Oct 2026 | Register entry for CMC Markets Singapore Pte Ltd (opens in a new tab) 4 |
| Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) | No reference | CMC Markets Bermuda Ltd | Authorised Checked 4 Oct 2026 | Register entry for CMC Markets Bermuda Ltd (opens in a new tab) 5 |
Each licence was matched on the regulator’s own register on the date shown. Unverified claims are listed under Regulation and legal entities.
Assessment summary
CMC Markets is owned by a London-listed parent, and we matched its UK, German, Australian, Singapore and Bermuda companies on their regulators’ registers. Its UK terms, costs disclosure and execution policy are published and current, and they disclose negative balance protection, segregated client money, FSCS cover and the ombudsman route. The ombudsman upheld 4 of the 19 decisions it published on CMC’s UK companies over three years. The only regulatory matter we found is ASIC’s 2023 report that CMC’s Australian company, with six other issuers, self-reported breaching CFD leverage limits and compensated clients. CMC’s German website shows a placeholder (“XX”) instead of the required percentage of retail accounts that lose money, and the banks holding client money are not named.
Key positives
- Clients can tell which regulated entity serves them 678
Each regional website names the CMC company that serves its clients, and the UK terms name CMC Markets UK plc as the contracting company.
- Client money segregation is disclosed 8
The UK terms say CMC holds an amount equal to each account’s value in a segregated client money bank account.
- Ultimate ownership can be identified 69
Companies House records the ownership chain from CMC Markets UK plc up to CMC Markets plc, a listed company, and CMC’s Canadian site names the same parent.
- Authorisations are current and unrestricted 12345
All registers we checked show the companies as currently authorised, with no suspension or restriction.
- Legal entity details are published 679
Legal names, company numbers and registered addresses are published for the UK companies, and the regional sites give the names and addresses of the others.
Key concerns
- CMC Markets Asia Pacific compensated clients after self-reporting CFD leverage limit breaches 10
Reduced the enforcement dimension by 2 points (low severity, 2.9 years before the review).
- Client-facing entities appear on the regulator’s register 123456
Partly met We matched CMC Markets UK plc, CMC Spreadbet plc and CMC Markets Investments on the FCA’s list, CMC Markets Germany on BaFin’s database, CMC Markets Asia Pacific in ASIC’s data, CMC Markets Singapore in MAS’s directory and CMC Markets Bermuda on the BMA’s register. We did not check the Canadian and New Zealand companies.
- Banking and custody arrangements are disclosed 8
Not met The UK terms describe a segregated client money bank account but do not name the banks.
- Regulatory claims on the website are accurate 1267
Partly met The licences CMC claims match the registers we checked, including the BaFin number on the German site. The Canadian and New Zealand claims could not be checked.
- Permissions cover the services offered 245
Partly met BaFin, MAS and the BMA list permissions that cover dealing in CFDs as principal; the FCA’s published list does not show permissions and we did not review the ASIC licence conditions.
Breakdown by dimension
Each dimension is scored from its criteria, then weighted. Dimensions without enough evidence are left out and the remaining weights are rescaled. Open a dimension to see every criterion, our rationale and the sources.
Regulatory status and licence verification 26% of score Whether the firm’s licences exist, are current and cover what it offers.
- Partly met
Client-facing entities appear on the regulator’s register 123456
We matched CMC Markets UK plc, CMC Spreadbet plc and CMC Markets Investments on the FCA’s list, CMC Markets Germany on BaFin’s database, CMC Markets Asia Pacific in ASIC’s data, CMC Markets Singapore in MAS’s directory and CMC Markets Bermuda on the BMA’s register. We did not check the Canadian and New Zealand companies.
- Met
- Partly met
- Partly met
- Met
Criteria and their weighting are explained in the methodology.
Corporate transparency and ownership 13% of score Whether you can find out who owns and runs the firm.
- Met
- Met
- Met
- Met
- Partly met
Financial statements are available 9
CMC Markets UK plc files accounts at Companies House and the parent is listed, but we did not review the latest annual report or regulatory disclosures for this assessment.
Criteria and their weighting are explained in the methodology.
Client fund protections and disclosed safeguards 13% of score What protects client money if something goes wrong.
- Met
Client money segregation is disclosed 8
The UK terms say CMC holds an amount equal to each account’s value in a segregated client money bank account.
- Met
Retail clients have negative balance protection 8
Retail clients cannot lose more than their invested capital under the UK terms.
- Partly met
- Not met
Banking and custody arrangements are disclosed 8
The UK terms describe a segregated client money bank account but do not name the banks.
- Not determined
Withdrawal terms are disclosed
We did not find withdrawal methods, fees and processing times in the documents we reviewed.
Criteria and their weighting are explained in the methodology.
Enforcement and substantiated adverse findings 13% of score Regulator warnings, enforcement actions and final legal findings on record.
Starts at 100 and loses points for each substantiated adverse finding by severity and age. Allegations, complaints and clone warnings never count. Total deducted: 2 points.
- Met
- Enforcement action
CMC Markets Asia Pacific compensated clients after self-reporting CFD leverage limit breaches 10
9 Nov 2023. Reduced the enforcement dimension by 2 points (low severity, 2.9 years before the review).
Criteria and their weighting are explained in the methodology.
Complaint handling and documented resolutions 8% of score How the firm handles complaints, and what independent records show.
- Partly met
A complaints procedure is published 8
The UK terms describe the complaint route to the Financial Ombudsman Service, but we did not review a separate complaints procedure with response times.
- Partly met
- Met
Independent complaint outcomes show no adverse pattern 12
Over three years the ombudsman published 19 decisions on CMC’s UK companies and upheld 4 (about 21%), which shows no pattern of complaints upheld against CMC.
- Not determined
Complaint data is disclosed 13
We found no complaint statistics published by CMC, and its UK companies are below the thresholds for the FCA’s and the ombudsman’s firm-level tables. AFCA publishes complaint figures for the financial firms that are its members, but its data site refused our requests, so we could not check the Australian company.
Criteria and their weighting are explained in the methodology.
Trading terms and operational transparency 8% of score Whether costs, execution and risks are disclosed before you sign up.
- Met
Costs are disclosed before account opening 14
The costs disclosure explains spreads, commissions, holding costs, guaranteed stop premiums, currency conversion and the inactivity charge.
- Met
An order execution policy is published 15
The order execution policy states that CMC is the sole execution venue and explains its execution factors.
- Met
The client agreement is available before sign-up 8
The UK terms of business can be downloaded without an account.
- Partly met
- Partly met
Criteria and their weighting are explained in the methodology.
Public disclosures and communication 4% of score Whether public claims hold up and the firm communicates openly.
- Met
- Met
- Met
Criteria and their weighting are explained in the methodology.
On-site office verification 5% of score What our visit confirmed in person: a real, staffed office of the assessed entity, not a ghost address.
We have not checked this firm’s office in person, so this dimension scores zero. We check offices through our on-site verification programme.
- Not met
Real office at the stated address, not a ghost address
- Not met
Office of the assessed entity
- Not met
Staffed and operating
Criteria and their weighting are explained in the methodology.
On-site assessment and platform testing 10% of score What our on-site checks and 30-day platform testing found.
We have not completed an on-site assessment of this firm, so this dimension does not count and its weight is shared among the others.
- Not determined
Company identity
- Not determined
Regulatory claims
- Not determined
Office visit
- Not determined
Account opening
- Not determined
Platform usability
- Not determined
Costs and disclosures
- Not determined
Customer support
- Not determined
Deposits and withdrawals
- Not determined
Trading functions
- Not determined
Complaints process
Criteria and their weighting are explained in the methodology.
Regulation and legal entities
A brand can trade through several companies, each licensed in a different place with different protections. Check which entity your account would be with.
CMC Spreadbet plc
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) · Reference 170627 1
Listed as Authorised in the FCA's investment firms register, first authorised 1 December 2001.
Authorised Verified on register, 4 Oct 2026
CMC Markets Investments Limited
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) · Reference 948126 1
Listed as Authorised in the FCA's investment firms register, first authorised 21 March 2022.
Authorised Verified on register, 4 Oct 2026
CMC Markets Germany GmbH
Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) (BaFin) · Reference BaFin-ID 10154814 2
Investment firm (Wertpapierinstitut): contract broking and proprietary trading since 26 June 2021, and dealing for own account and market making since 5 May 2026.
Authorised Verified on register, 4 Oct 2026
CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) · Reference AFSL 238054 3
Licence start date 24 February 2004.
Authorised Verified on register, 4 Oct 2026
CMC Markets Singapore Pte Ltd
Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) 4
Capital markets services licence: dealing in securities, collective investment schemes, exchange-traded and OTC derivatives and spot FX for leveraged trading; custodial services.
Authorised Verified on register, 4 Oct 2026
CMC Markets Bermuda Ltd
Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) 5
Investment business licence; digital asset business licence (Class F) effective 25 August 2025.
Authorised Verified on register, 4 Oct 2026
CMC Markets Canada Inc.
Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO)
Member of CIRO and of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (as stated by CMC Markets)
We did not check CIRO’s dealer directory.
Claimed by the firm, not yet verified
CMC Markets NZ Limited
Financial Markets Authority (FMA)
The FMA website refused our requests on 4 October 2026.
Claimed by the firm, not yet verified
CMC Markets plc
No licence recorded for this entity.
Dated findings
Warnings, enforcement actions, legal findings, allegations and complaint records are labelled separately. What each label means.
Enforcement action Settled
CMC Markets Asia Pacific compensated clients after self-reporting CFD leverage limit breaches 10
On 9 November 2023 ASIC reported that CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd was one of seven CFD issuers that self-reported issuing CFDs to retail clients with leverage above the limits in ASIC’s CFD product intervention order, and that undertook remediation programs to compensate affected clients under ASIC’s review. ASIC did not impose a penalty. We record it as a settled matter of low severity because the breaches were self-reported and remediated.
Company response
Firms can respond to their profile and to any finding. No response has been published for CMC Markets. How firms can respond.
Assessment history
| Review date | Result | Methodology | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Oct 2026 | Trust score 84 out of 100 Strong | 1.2 | Current |
Corrections and updates
No corrections have been made to this profile.
Sources
- 1 Financial Services Register: investment firms list (CSV), data as at 3 October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Shows CMC Markets UK plc (FRN 173730), CMC Spreadbet plc (FRN 170627) and CMC Markets Investments Limited (FRN 948126) with status Authorised.
- 2 Company database: CMC Markets Germany GmbH (opens in a new tab)
Lists CMC Markets Germany GmbH, Neue Mainzer Straße 46-50, Frankfurt, as an investment firm (BaFin-ID 10154814), authorised for contract broking and proprietary trading since 26 June 2021 and for dealing for own account and market making since 5 May 2026.
- 3 Australian Financial Services Licensee dataset (October 2026) (opens in a new tab)
Lists AFSL 238054 held by CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd (ABN 11100058213), Sydney, from 24 February 2004.
- 4 Financial Institutions Directory: CMC Markets Singapore Pte Ltd (opens in a new tab)
Lists CMC Markets Singapore Pte Ltd as a capital markets services licensee for dealing in securities, collective investment schemes, exchange-traded and OTC derivatives and spot FX for leveraged trading, and for custodial services. Names Christopher James Hayato Forbes as chief executive officer.
- 5 Regulated entities: CMC Markets Bermuda Ltd (opens in a new tab)
Lists CMC Markets Bermuda Ltd among licensed investment business entities and as a Class F digital asset business (registration 202302718, effective 25 August 2025), at 9 Par-La-Ville Road, Hamilton.
- 6 CMC Markets regional websites: footers (Australia, Germany, Canada, New Zealand, international) (opens in a new tab)
The Australian site names CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd, AFSL 238054, as derivative issuer. The German site says CMC Markets Germany GmbH is regulated by BaFin under registration number 154814, but its risk warning reads “XX of retail investor accounts lose money”, with no figure. The Canadian site says CMC Markets Canada Inc. is a CIRO and CIPF member and a subsidiary of the listed CMC Markets plc. The New Zealand site names CMC Markets NZ Limited, Auckland. The international site says CMC Markets Bermuda Ltd is licensed by the BMA and shows a 50% retail loss figure.
- 7 CMC Markets UK website footer and legal documents page (opens in a new tab)
States that CMC Markets UK plc (173730) and CMC Markets Investments Limited (948126) are authorised by the FCA, with company numbers 02448409 and 12816952 and registered office 133 Houndsditch, London. Shows the warning that 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider; another page of the same site shows 70%. Gives an email address and phone number for client services.
- 8 CMC Markets UK plc Terms of Business (March 2024) (opens in a new tab)
Retail clients cannot lose more than their invested capital. CMC holds an amount equal to each account’s value in a segregated client money bank account; the banks are not named. Retail clients may be entitled to FSCS compensation, and complaints can be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. CMC will notify clients of changes to the agreement under clause 9. Close-out levels are shown on the platform rather than in the terms. Dormant accounts may incur fees.
- 9 Companies House: CMC Markets UK plc (02448409) and its parent companies (opens in a new tab)
Active company, registered office 133 Houndsditch, London EC3A 7BX. Active officers include Lord Cruddas, David John Fineberg, Roy Leslie Tooley, Jonathan David Bendall and Laurence Peter Booth. Persons with significant control: CMC Markets UK Holdings Limited (05554639), controlled in turn by CMC Markets Holdings Limited (09980788), controlled by CMC Markets plc (05145017), a listed company exempt from PSC disclosure.
- 10 23-298MR ASIC oversees more than $17.4 million in compensation to retail investors by OTC derivative issuers (opens in a new tab)
ASIC reports that seven CFD issuers, including CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd, self-reported issuing CFDs to retail clients above the leverage limits in ASIC’s CFD product intervention order and paid or agreed to pay a combined AUD 4.3 million to more than 1,500 affected clients since March 2021. ASIC reviewed the compensation; four issuers, not named, paid more than AUD 2.8 million in additional compensation as a result.
- 11 Searches of FCA, ASIC, CySEC and CVM records, the Indian and Malaysian alert lists, and web searches for other regulators’ actions, for CMC Markets companies (opens in a new tab)
On 4 October 2026 we searched the FCA’s and ASIC’s websites, CySEC’s board decisions and Brazil’s CVM alerts, checked the Reserve Bank of India and Securities Commission Malaysia alert lists, and ran web searches for actions by BaFin, MAS, CIRO and the FMA, for CMC Markets and its companies. Apart from ASIC’s 2023 report, cited separately, we found no fine, sanction or warning. CMC Markets is not on the Indian list; the Malaysian list includes only a clone misusing its name.
- 12 Ombudsman decisions: CMC Markets UK plc and CMC Spreadbet plc, October 2023 to October 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Between 4 October 2023 and 4 October 2026 the ombudsman published 12 final decisions about CMC Spreadbet plc (3 upheld) and 7 about CMC Markets UK plc (1 upheld): 19 decisions, 4 upheld.
- 13 FCA firm-level complaints data 2025 H2 and Financial Ombudsman business complaints data (July 2025 to March 2026) (opens in a new tab)
Neither dataset includes a CMC Markets company; both publish firm-level figures only above minimum complaint volumes.
- 14 CMC Markets UK plc Costs Disclosure (31 July 2026) (opens in a new tab)
Explains spreads, commissions (for example 0.10% with a GBP 9 minimum on UK share CFDs), holding costs, guaranteed stop-loss premiums, currency conversion and a monthly inactivity charge on accounts dormant for a year, with a table of amounts by account currency.
- 15 CMC Markets UK plc Order Execution Policy Summary (6 May 2026) (opens in a new tab)
States that CMC Markets is the sole execution venue for client orders and ranks the execution factors, starting with price and costs.
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