CMC Markets Forecasts 37% Drop in Fiscal 2019 CFD Revenues
- ESMA's product interventions coupled with a tough final quarter in 2018 have brought the broker to this expectation.

Ahead of releasing its full-year results for its 2019 fiscal year, CMC Markets, a provider of online trading, has issued a trading update on its overall performance during the year this Wednesday.
CMC Markets’ 2019 fiscal year ended on March 31, 2019. During this time, the overall financial performance of the company was heavily influenced by the implementation of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA ESMA European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is an independent Authority of the European Union that is responsible for the safety, security, and stability of the European Unions’ financial system and is charged with protecting the public. The European supervisory authority for the securities sector, ESMA was established on 1 January 2011. The European Securities and Markets Authority is an independent EU authority based in Paris. It aims to contribute to the effectiveness and stability of t European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is an independent Authority of the European Union that is responsible for the safety, security, and stability of the European Unions’ financial system and is charged with protecting the public. The European supervisory authority for the securities sector, ESMA was established on 1 January 2011. The European Securities and Markets Authority is an independent EU authority based in Paris. It aims to contribute to the effectiveness and stability of t Read this Term) intervention measures on the 1st of August last year.
These measures, which reduced client trading activity, alongside challenging market conditions in the fourth quarter of 2018, has brought the broker to the expectation that it will report contracts for difference (CFD) and spread-bet revenue of around £110 million for its fiscal 2019.
This figure is lower than that achieved in the prior year by 37 percent. As Finance Magnates previously reported, the UK-based firm warned back in September that it forecasted lower annual revenues for its 2019 fiscal year. However, at the time, the company expected a drop of 20 percent, not 37 percent.
CMC Markets also expects to report a net operating income of approximately £131 million. The full financial results are scheduled to be released on June 6 this year.
CMC Markets Remains Confident in 2020 Outlook
Looking ahead, the statement released today said: “The impact of the new ESMA margin rules, which has resulted in retail clients trading less, utilising more of their cash to fund their margin requirements or needing to deposit more funds with CMC to trade at previous levels, is showing signs of stabilising."
“Since the introduction of the new rules, Client Money Client Money Client money refers to the money or margin – which may be any currency in the form of cash, check, draft, or electronic transfer – that a firm receives or holds for a client. Money held by a firm in the form of a stakeholder, which is are not payable on demand or immediately due, also refers to client money. The definition of client money does not apply to money held by businesses that operate in its own name on behalf of a client. Although the client does have to be in agreement before this arr Client money refers to the money or margin – which may be any currency in the form of cash, check, draft, or electronic transfer – that a firm receives or holds for a client. Money held by a firm in the form of a stakeholder, which is are not payable on demand or immediately due, also refers to client money. The definition of client money does not apply to money held by businesses that operate in its own name on behalf of a client. Although the client does have to be in agreement before this arr Read this Term has remained strong, and active client and new client numbers have remained stable resulting in the Group having confidence in meeting the consensus FY 2020 outlook. We believe that the new ESMA regulations are good for this business and for the industry over the medium to long term.”
Ahead of releasing its full-year results for its 2019 fiscal year, CMC Markets, a provider of online trading, has issued a trading update on its overall performance during the year this Wednesday.
CMC Markets’ 2019 fiscal year ended on March 31, 2019. During this time, the overall financial performance of the company was heavily influenced by the implementation of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA ESMA European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is an independent Authority of the European Union that is responsible for the safety, security, and stability of the European Unions’ financial system and is charged with protecting the public. The European supervisory authority for the securities sector, ESMA was established on 1 January 2011. The European Securities and Markets Authority is an independent EU authority based in Paris. It aims to contribute to the effectiveness and stability of t European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is an independent Authority of the European Union that is responsible for the safety, security, and stability of the European Unions’ financial system and is charged with protecting the public. The European supervisory authority for the securities sector, ESMA was established on 1 January 2011. The European Securities and Markets Authority is an independent EU authority based in Paris. It aims to contribute to the effectiveness and stability of t Read this Term) intervention measures on the 1st of August last year.
These measures, which reduced client trading activity, alongside challenging market conditions in the fourth quarter of 2018, has brought the broker to the expectation that it will report contracts for difference (CFD) and spread-bet revenue of around £110 million for its fiscal 2019.
This figure is lower than that achieved in the prior year by 37 percent. As Finance Magnates previously reported, the UK-based firm warned back in September that it forecasted lower annual revenues for its 2019 fiscal year. However, at the time, the company expected a drop of 20 percent, not 37 percent.
CMC Markets also expects to report a net operating income of approximately £131 million. The full financial results are scheduled to be released on June 6 this year.
CMC Markets Remains Confident in 2020 Outlook
Looking ahead, the statement released today said: “The impact of the new ESMA margin rules, which has resulted in retail clients trading less, utilising more of their cash to fund their margin requirements or needing to deposit more funds with CMC to trade at previous levels, is showing signs of stabilising."
“Since the introduction of the new rules, Client Money Client Money Client money refers to the money or margin – which may be any currency in the form of cash, check, draft, or electronic transfer – that a firm receives or holds for a client. Money held by a firm in the form of a stakeholder, which is are not payable on demand or immediately due, also refers to client money. The definition of client money does not apply to money held by businesses that operate in its own name on behalf of a client. Although the client does have to be in agreement before this arr Client money refers to the money or margin – which may be any currency in the form of cash, check, draft, or electronic transfer – that a firm receives or holds for a client. Money held by a firm in the form of a stakeholder, which is are not payable on demand or immediately due, also refers to client money. The definition of client money does not apply to money held by businesses that operate in its own name on behalf of a client. Although the client does have to be in agreement before this arr Read this Term has remained strong, and active client and new client numbers have remained stable resulting in the Group having confidence in meeting the consensus FY 2020 outlook. We believe that the new ESMA regulations are good for this business and for the industry over the medium to long term.”