CMC Markets has launched a multi-asset platform that allows retail clients to hold equity investments and trade derivatives within a single account, the FTSE 250 broker (LSE: CMCX) announced today (Monday), broadening its product line beyond its core derivatives business into the fast-growing commission-free investing market.
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The platform offers access to more than 12,000 global shares and ETFs with no trading commission and no platform or holding fees. A 0.5% foreign exchange conversion fee may apply for international transactions, the company said. CFDs and options across a range of global markets remain available alongside the new investing capability through the same account.
Zero Commission Extends to UK and EU Share CFDs
Alongside the platform launch, CMC Markets said it is also cutting commissions to zero on UK and European share CFDs, a category that excludes Greece. The firm said the move is designed to give clients more flexibility to switch between outright equity positions and leveraged products without additional cost friction.
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"Removing commission on UK and European CFD shares allows our clients to trade more efficiently," said Vaughn Affonso, Co-Head of Dealing at CMC Markets. "At a time of increased investor interest and rotation from US markets into the UK and Europe, this provides a cost-effective way for clients to access new opportunities and manage their capital more dynamically."
Monday's launch effectively closes the chapter on CMC Invest as a standalone product in the UK. The investing sub-brand was launched by CMC in October 2022 as a deliberate attempt to diversify away from CFDs, offering commission-free access to US and UK-listed shares, ETFs and investment trusts through a separate platform with a different identity. At the time, it was explicitly positioned as operating independently from CMC's core derivatives business.
EU-UK Capital Rotation Shapes the Timing
The launch lands as some investors have been moving capital away from US equities toward European and British markets, a dynamic Affonso referenced directly. CMC, which partnered with Revolut in mid-2024 to distribute CFD access through the neobank's app, appears to be positioning its retail platform to benefit from the same shift.
The firm also faces a more competitive domestic backdrop. Commission-free stock trading has become a baseline expectation in the UK retail market, with platforms including Trading 212 and Freetrade having already trained a large segment of younger investors on zero-cost models. CMC's move to match those terms, while bundling in a derivatives offering, represents an attempt to differentiate on breadth rather than price alone.
Chris Cheverall, Head of UK at CMC Markets, said the combined offering is built around clients who want flexibility. "By offering investing and trading side by side, we're making it easier for clients to choose the approach that suits them," he said. "You might want to own shares in companies like Nvidia as part of a long-term strategy, or trade those same markets more actively using leverage - and now you can do both through a single CMC Markets platform."
Three-Phase Roadmap Still Unfolding
Monday's launch is the first stage of a longer product vision CMC outlined last November, when the company described a three-phase plan culminating in a "Super App" that would unify traditional and decentralised finance on a single platform. The Super App phase, which the company said would incorporate tokenised assets, stablecoins and DeFi products alongside tax-advantaged wrappers like SIPPs and ISAs, has not yet been given a public launch date.
CMC has been assembling the technical building blocks for that ambition. In May 2025, the broker increased its stake in blockchain firm StrikeX Technologies from 33% to 51% to gain control over the company's Web3 infrastructure, while later in the year it opened a new office in Warsaw as part of an ongoing expansion of its operational footprint.
Shares Pull Back at the Open
CMC Markets shares did not react positively to the Monday announcement, falling more than 2% to around 330 pence at the London open. The stock had tested its highest levels since late 2024, reaching 345 pence on Friday before pulling back at the start of the new week.
The modest selloff follows a period of strong momentum for the company. CMC's shares surged more than 40% after beating its full-year income guidance and reporting first-half pre-tax profit of £49.3 million on net operating income of £186.2 million in November 2025, at which point it also raised its full-year outlook by 10%. With the multi-asset platform now live, the market will be watching closely to see whether the commercial results justify the product investment the company has been signalling for months.
