How To Use the CMC Markets Platform

Step 1: Learn The Basics

The proprietary platform runs in your browser, so no download is needed. Once you’ve opened the dashboard the first thing is to understand the core features:

• Watchlists: Pre-built or custom lists of instruments. As you can see further below I made my own watchlist but CMC has pre-built some popular lists.
• Product Library: Searchable catalogue of 12,000+ markets. This includes the largest library of forex assets we’ve seen on a retail trading platform – there’s over 300.
• Charts: Multi-panel charting workspace. I like to stick to one chart in the CMC platform so I can see my technical analysis more clearly and so I’m not distracted by other assets and charts.
• Orders: Live and pending order tracker. I’ve used both depending on my setup, which is normally swing trading where I opt for live orders with take-profit and stop-loss parameters.
• Account: Margin, equity, balance, open positions. I check this daily to monitor existing positions and to check I have enough capital to fund new positions.

The layout can be customized by dragging, resizing, and locking panels. I recommend spending at least 1 hour setting up your workspace before you start trading. The default layout is not ideal for active traders.

Interface

Step 2: Find Something to Trade

There are three ways to find an instrument in the CMC platform:

1. Search bar: Type the name or ticker (EUR/USD, Apple, Gold)
2. Watchlist: Scroll your saved lists. Below is my ‘US Tech Stocks’ watchlist open.
3. Product Library: Filter by asset class, region, or sector

Watchlists

The Product Library includes a Forex Indices section. These are baskets of currencies that are not available at most other brokers. They are worth exploring once you are comfortable with the basics.

Step 3: Place a Trade

Click an instrument, then hit Buy or Sell. The order window covers:

• Order type: Market, Limit, Stop Entry
• Quantity: Units or lots depending on the market
• Stop Loss: Fixed or trailing
• Take Profit: Your target exit
• GSLO: Optional guaranteed stop that protects from market gapping and execution issues, premium shown upfront and charged only if executed. It can offer guaranteed stop loss orders in part because CMC is a market maker, taking the opposing side of trades.

Order Modification

One frustration I’ve found is that stop-loss and take-profit levels do not appear on the chart until after you place the order. You cannot set your stops visually before confirming. Once the trade is live, you can drag the stop and take profit lines on the chart, which works well.

Step 4: Watch Your Open Trades

The Positions panel shows:

• Entry price vs current price
• Unrealized P&L in real time
• Margin used per trade
• Options to partially close, adjust stops, or close fully

Watch the margin meter at the top of the screen. If it reaches the set level, your positions will begin to close automatically.

Order History

Step 5: Use the Charts

This is where the platform earns its reputation. You get:

• 115+ technical indicators — MACD, RSI, Bollinger Bands, Ichimoku
• 40+ drawing tools — trend lines, Fibonacci, channels
• Timeframes from 1-minute to monthly
• Up to 4 charts open at once

Charting analysis

The pattern recognition scanner is worth a look at. It automatically spots chart formations — head-and-shoulders, triangles, double tops — across your watchlist. It’s not perfect, but it’s useful for quickly scanning a large list.

Step 6: MetaTrader (For Automated Trading)

CMC supports both MetaTrader desktop and web platforms, as well as the mobile platform.

• MT4 is better if you use Expert Advisors (EAs) for automated strategies
• MT5 has more order types, a built-in economic calendar, and more timeframes but it’s not available in all CMC regions
• VPS hosting is available, keeping your EAs running 24 hours a day, 5 days a week, even when your computer is off.

Step 7: Built-In Research

Don’t ignore these:

• Economic Calendar with low/medium/high impact labels
• Reuters and Morningstar news in real time
• CMC TV — market analysis videos a few times a week, embedded in the platform
• AI News — summarises market stories (it’s a research tool, not a trade bot)
• Client Sentiment — shows what percentage of CMC clients are long or short on any market

Client sentiment

Step 8: The Mobile App

Strong trading functionality on iOS and Android — not a cut-down version. Charting on mobile works well with touch controls. The Insights tab displays Hot Products and Price Movers, which help you find ideas quickly. However, for detailed analysis, the desktop platform is much better.

CMC Platform Comparison

Note not all MetaTrader platforms are available in all regions. For example, MT5 is not available to UK clients.