CMC Markets is expanding 24-hour trading access to more than 5,000 US-listed shares and exchange-traded funds five days a week across its leveraged trading products and CMC Invest platform. The expansion extends the available US trading day from 6.5 hours to as much as 16 hours and marks a twentyfold increase from the company's earlier offering of around 250 US securities introduced in April. The move reflects rising demand for access to US markets outside regular New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq hours as earnings releases, economic data and geopolitical developments often arrive before or after standard trading sessions.
CMC Markets Expands US Trading Access to 5,000+ Securities
The expanded offering applies to both leveraged trading products and the CMC Invest platform. Clients trading contracts for differences and spread bets can trade eligible US shares and ETFs around the clock during the trading week where overnight pricing is available. CMC Invest users gain access to extended-hours trading before and after the regular US market session. The rollout increases the available US trading day for investors from the traditional 6.5-hour cash session to as much as 16 hours. When CMC Markets introduced weekend gold trading in April, it provided 24/5 access to about 250 US shares and ETFs. The latest update expands that universe twentyfold to more than 5,000 securities.
Market Demand Drives Extended Trading Hours
The expansion reflects rising demand for access to US markets outside regular New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq hours. Earnings releases, economic data, central bank comments and geopolitical developments often arrive before the opening bell or after the closing auction, leaving investors exposed to price gaps when regular trading resumes. CMC Markets said the broader trading window allows clients to react to those events more quickly. "US markets are increasingly driven by events that take place outside the traditional trading session, whether that's corporate earnings, economic data or geopolitical developments," said Vaughn Affonso, Co-head of Dealing at CMC Markets. "Expanding our trading hours gives clients more opportunity to react when markets move, rather than waiting for the next session to open." Extended-hours trading has become a competitive feature as firms try to attract active traders, global clients and investors who want more flexibility around US market-moving events.
Trading Outside Regular Hours Carries Structural Risks
CMC Markets said 24/5 trading will be available only where overnight pricing is supported. Overnight prices typically depend on available liquidity from market makers rather than continuous trading on the underlying US exchanges. Trading outside regular hours can involve wider bid-ask spreads, lower liquidity and sharper price moves. These risks can be more visible when companies release earnings after the US close or when macroeconomic headlines arrive during Asian or European trading hours. In those conditions, quoted prices may move quickly and available depth can be thinner than during the main US session. For leveraged clients trading CFDs or spread bets, the risk is amplified because smaller price moves can have a larger account impact. For investors using CMC Invest, extended access may help manage event risk but also requires more caution around execution quality and price volatility.
Expansion Supports CMC Markets Multi-Asset Platform Strategy
The rollout forms part of CMC Markets' broader push to move beyond its historical focus on leveraged derivatives and build a more connected multi-asset platform. Over the past several months, the FTSE 250-listed company has launched a unified platform allowing clients to trade CFDs while investing in more than 12,000 global shares and ETFs. The company has also introduced European certificates and warrants, rolled out a Prime Services platform for institutional clients through CMC Connect and added fractional investing, enabling customers to purchase portions of shares and ETFs from as little as £1. Laurence Booth, Global Head of Markets at CMC Markets, said the latest expansion is part of a wider push to simplify access to global markets. "Our focus is on simplifying how clients access financial markets, giving them the flexibility to trade in the way that suits them," Booth said. "Expanding 24/5 access is an important step in that journey as we continue to broaden market access and evolve towards an increasingly connected, always-on trading experience."
FAQ
What did CMC Markets announce about US trading hours?
CMC Markets announced it is expanding 24-hour trading access to more than 5,000 US-listed shares and exchange-traded funds five days a week across its leveraged trading products and CMC Invest platform, extending the available US trading day from 6.5 hours to as much as 16 hours.
Why is CMC Markets expanding trading hours for US securities?
CMC Markets is expanding trading hours because US markets are increasingly driven by events that take place outside the traditional trading session, including corporate earnings, economic data and geopolitical developments, and the broader trading window allows clients to react to those events more quickly rather than waiting for the next session to open.
What risks are associated with trading outside regular US market hours?
Trading outside regular hours can involve wider bid-ask spreads, lower liquidity and sharper price moves because overnight prices typically depend on available liquidity from market makers rather than continuous trading on the underlying US exchanges, and for leveraged clients trading CFDs or spread bets the risk is amplified because smaller price moves can have a larger account impact.
