CMC Markets has launched fractional shares and ETF investing from £1 in the UK, expanding CMC Invest across ISA, SIPP and GIA accounts as part of a wider multi-asset account strategy for retail investors.
CMC Markets Launches Fractional Investing in the UK on 9 July 2026
On 9 July 2026 (09:54 GMT, 17:54 Beijing time), CMC Markets, a London Stock Exchange-listedCFDand multi-asset financial services company, launched fractional share andETFinvesting from £1 on its UK platform. Retail clients can buy and sell fractional shares through Stocks & SharesISA, Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) and General Investment Account (GIA) accounts.
The launch more closely integrates investing services with derivatives trading within a unified multi-asset account. Clients can hold shares and trade derivatives in the same account, reflecting the company’s strategic focus on client retention by placing entry-level investing and higher-value trading services on the same platform.
From Revenue Diversification to Multi-Asset Integration
Development of the CMC Invest Platform
CMC Invest was launched in 2022 to diversify the group’s revenue sources and reduce reliance on its contracts for difference business. On 23 March 2026, CMC Markets announced the launch of a unified multi-asset platform, enabling clients to invest commission-free in more than 12,000 global shares and ETFs and trade CFDs and options through a single account. The fractional investing launch on 9 July 2026 further extends this integrated model.
Functional Positioning of Fractional Shares
Fractional share trading allows clients to invest by monetary amount rather than by whole-share quantity, lowering the entry threshold for retail investors and enabling them to build diversified portfolios without needing to purchase full shares. Clients can hold shares and trade derivatives in the same account, while the traditional pricing gap between investing and active trading has also narrowed as a result of policy adjustments.
From 23 March 2026, CMC Markets introduced zero commission on more than 2,500 UK and European share CFDs, excluding Greek-listed securities, aligning with CMC Invest’s commission-free investing model.
“Investing should be defined by an investor’s goals, not by the price of a single share. Fractional investing gives clients greater flexibility, enabling them to build diversified portfolios in a way that suits them and to invest with greater confidence.”
(Sources: CMC Markets, Press Release “CMC Markets expands offering with new multi-asset platform”, published on 2026-03-23; Finance Magnates, “CMC Markets Adds Fractional Shares as Multi-Asset Integration Accelerates”, published on 2026-07-09, by Tanya Chepkova.)
UK and European Broker Landscape for Fractional Investing
Industry Launch Timeline
Fractional share investing has become a standard feature among some European retail brokers. Regulators have also started to issue formal guidance on the business model, clarifying when fractional exposure should be treated as exposure to shares.
| Institution | Timeline | Coverage | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swissquote | 2024-10-22 | Swiss and multi-market shares, ETFs | Launched fractional trading and automated savings plans, with single-trade fees reduced to a minimum of CHF 3 |
| Webull UK | 2025-06-11 | London Stock Exchange-listed shares and ETFs | Introduced fractional trading from £1 via Upvest’s investment infrastructure |
| CySEC | 2024-09-26 | Cyprus Investment Firms (CIFs) | Issued Circular C659, clarifying that fractional exposure under trust arrangements is subject to MiFID share exposure rules |
| CMC Markets | 2026-07-09 | UK ISA, SIPP, GIA | Fractional share and ETF investing from £1, integrated into a unified multi-asset account |
Progress in the Regulatory Framework
On 26 September 2024, theCySECissued Circular C659, providing guidance on when fractional investing offered by Cyprus Investment Firms to clients through trust arrangements in respect of shares issued in non-fractional form should be regarded as exposure to the shares themselves. The circular clarifies that such arrangements must comply with share trading and client asset protection obligations underMiFIDII and MiFIR. Fractional exposure financial instruments that do not use trust arrangements must not be presented or regarded as shares.
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) also issued a public statement on fractional shares in March 2023, clarifying that fractional exposure offered in derivative form does not constitute company share capital and that the term “fractional shares” must not be used in a way that misleads investors.
(Sources: CySEC, Circular C659 “Fractionalisation of Shares”, published on 2024-09-26; ESMA, Public Statement on fractional shares, published on 2023-03.)
B2B Infrastructure Supports Retail Business Expansion
Financial Performance for FY2026
CMC Markets published preliminary results for the financial year ended 31 March 2026 in June 2026. Group net operating income rose 15% year on year to £392.6 million, while profit before tax increased 20% year on year to £101.3 million. The profit before tax margin was 25.8% (FY2025: 24.8%). The company said growth was partly supported by contributions fromB2BandAPIdistribution businesses.
Platform Functions and Client Tools
The same technology architecture now supports a broader range of retail services. API partnerships have helped drive account growth through integrations with new digital banks. CMC Markets is also rolling out CMC Intelligence, anAI-driven research tool developed in partnership with Telescope AI. The tool is designed to provide investors with traceable market and portfolio analysis summaries and to improve user engagement on the platform. It was first launched in the Australian market in June 2026, covering markets including Australia, the United States, Singapore, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
According to CMC Invest platform data, Australian investors trade domestic shares about six times more frequently than US-listed shares. CMC Invest has also introduced the TipRanks research tool in the UK market, with the first integrated user base exceeding one million.
(Sources: CMC Markets, Preliminary Results for the year ended 31 March 2026, published on 2026-06; Finance Magnates, “23% of CMC Invest Clients Use AI for Investing”, published on 2026-06.)
Narrowing Product Boundaries and Lowering Retail Investment Thresholds
CMC Markets’ fractional investing launch on 9 July 2026 forms a coherent strategy alongside the March 2026 launch of its multi-asset platform and its zero-commission policy for UK and European share CFDs. Investing, derivatives and research tools are increasingly being delivered through a single platform rather than operated as separate product lines.
For UK retail investors, fractional investing from £1 lowers the barrier to accessing high-priced shares. For CMC Markets, the unified account model helps keep clients within the same ecosystem as they move from long-term investing towards active trading, strengthening client retention and cross-selling capabilities.
Questions Related to CMC Markets Fractional Investing
What is fractional share trading?
Fractional share trading allows investors to buy part of a share or ETF by specifying a monetary amount, rather than having to purchase a whole share. The fractional investing service launched by CMC Markets on its UK platform has a minimum amount of £1, enabling clients to diversify across multiple securities according to their own capital position without being excluded by the high price of a single share.
Which account types does CMC Markets fractional investing cover?
The fractional investing feature has been launched on the CMC Invest platform and covers three account types: Stocks & Shares ISA, SIPP and GIA. Clients can buy and sell fractional shares and ETFs through these accounts while continuing to benefit from the commission-free investing policy.
What is CySEC’s regulatory position on fractional share exposure?
In Circular C659 published on 26 September 2024, CySEC clarified that when a Cyprus Investment Firm offers clients fractional investing through trust arrangements in respect of shares issued in non-fractional form, the exposure should be regarded as exposure to the shares themselves. Such arrangements must comply with the relevant MiFID II and MiFIR obligations, including share trading obligations and client asset protection requirements. Fractional exposure products that do not use trust arrangements must not be presented as shares.
How is this launch connected to CMC Markets’ zero-commission CFD policy?
On 23 March 2026, alongside the launch of its unified multi-asset platform, CMC Markets introduced zero commission on UK and European share CFDs, excluding Greek-listed securities, narrowing the traditional fee gap between investing and active trading. The fractional investing launch on 9 July 2026 further lowers the entry threshold for investing, enabling clients to hold shares fractionally and trade leveraged CFDs within the same account, reflecting its multi-asset integration strategy.
