TORONTO
,
Oct. 26
/CNW/ - CMC Markets, Canada's only provider of Contracts for Difference (CFDs), today announced that it has received regulatory approval in Ontario and
Quebec
to offer CFD and Foreign Exchange (FX) trading to retail investors. Until today's announcement, the company's innovative derivative products have only been available to Accredited Investors.
"The ability to offer CFDs and FX to retail investors is a major milestone for CMC Markets in
Canada
," said
Bruce Seago
, CEO, CMC Markets
Canada
. "In addition to trading access in Canadian and US markets, retail investors will now have more online trading options, including Foreign Shares, Indices, Currencies and popular commodities like Gold and Oil.
"With regulatory approvals in Ontario and
Quebec
, we are now able to expand our product offerings to a wider retail client base, strengthening our position as one of Canada's leading online trading firms, and addressing the needs of active traders and serious investors looking for a cost effective and efficient alternative to physical shares, ETFs and Futures," added
Mr. Seago
.
CMC intends to request similar regulatory approvals in other provinces and territories in order to be able to offer CFD and FX trading to all retail investors across
Canada
.
Currently, CMC offers CFDs to a broad range of clients in other major world markets, including the
United Kingdom
,
Australia
and
Germany
. CFDs are one of the world's fastest growing trading instruments, contributing up to 25% of the
London
Stock Exchange's volume. Although a relatively new investment product in the Canadian marketplace, CFDs continue to grow in popularity as they offer instant, cost-effective access to global Commodities, Indices, Equities and FX all across one real-time online platform.
During the fiscal year ended
March 2009
, the CMC Markets Group transacted over 30 million trades at a value of US$1.5 trillion and now has over 76,000 active client accounts. This represents a growth of 36% in active customers and a 50% growth in trading volumes over a one-year period.
All CFD and FX instruments traded with CMC Markets are traded on margin, with rates on Canadian and US Shares starting from 15%. Margin rates for Commodities, FX and Indices range from 2-12%. Investing with leverage, or on margin, means that you only need to deposit a percentage of the value of a position to secure the trade. This provides investors with an opportunity to diversify their portfolio by freeing up more capital for alternative trades or to magnify their return on investment. Since trading on margin may also increase your losses, trading CFDs and FX may not be suitable for all investors.
CMC Markets also offer a highly competitive
$5
flat rate commission with no minimum trade requirements on Canadian and US shares.
As a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of
Canada
(IIROC), all client accounts of CMC Markets
Canada
are protected by the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF).
For more information on CMC Markets
Canada
and CFDs please visit www.cmcmarkets.ca.
About CMC Markets
CMC Markets is a global leader and pioneer in online trading. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in
London
, England, CMC Markets has 15 offices worldwide and represents clients in over 85 countries. The company specializes in Contracts for Difference (CFDs), a revolutionary trading product and Foreign Exchange. In
December 2007
, Goldman Sachs acquired a 10% stake in CMC Group.
Operating in
Canada
since 2005, CMC Markets has an office in
Toronto
and is the only provider of CFDs in the country. CMC Markets
Canada
Inc. is a member of the IIROC and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund.
CMC Markets
Canada
Inc. is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of
Canada
and Member CIPF. CFDs are distributed in
Canada
by CMC Markets
Canada
Inc. dealer and agent of CMC Markets UK plc. Trading CFDs and FX involves a high degree of risk and investors should be prepared for the risk of losing their entire investment and losing further amounts. CMC Markets is an execution only dealer and does not provide investment advice or recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of any securities. CFD and FX trading is available in jurisdictions in which CMC is registered or exempt from registration, and outside of Ontario and
Quebec
is available to Accredited Investors only.
For further information: Beth Merrick, ZAZOU Communications, (416) 654-9881, [email protected]; Jayne Cripps, CMC Markets Canada, (416) 682-5041, [email protected]
Share this article