CMC Markets (LSE: CMCX) has appointed Upvest as the infrastructure provider for a new multi-currency cash equities offering in Germany, marking a further step in the FTSE 250 broker’s effort to move beyond its traditional contracts-for-difference (CFD) focus and position itself as a multi-asset retail venue.
Under the agreement announced on Tuesday, German clients will be able to trade stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds denominated in pounds, euros and US dollars through a single account starting this autumn, according to the two companies. The new service is designed to allow investors to hold and trade securities in their native currency without forced conversion at the point of trade.
CMC Markets said the German cash equities product will feature instant onboarding and real-time data. The offering will also replicate the zero-commission model the firm introduced in the UK earlier in the year, when it launched a single platform that combines investing and CFD trading for British clients.
Multi-currency access for German clients
Christine Romar, head of Europe at CMC Markets Germany, said the partnership with Upvest would enable German users to trade London Stock Exchange (LSE)-listed securities in sterling, DAX components in euros and US technology stocks in dollars on the same platform. By consolidating these markets into one account, CMC aims to give German clients streamlined access to UK, eurozone and US-listed instruments without needing separate currency conversions for each trade.
Template for wider European expansion
The German launch is intended to serve as a template for CMC Markets’ broader regional strategy. The company said the same underlying infrastructure will be used as it rolls out similar offerings in other European markets and introduces localized products, including pension wrappers and tax-advantaged accounts tailored to local requirements.
The partnership with Upvest fits into a wider roadmap CMC Markets presented to investors in November, when it outlined plans to evolve into a financial “super app”. The group’s stated ambition is to combine traditional finance services with decentralized finance features and, in time, banking products on a single platform.
CMC Markets currently serves more than 1.5 million traders worldwide and offers around 12,000 instruments, predominantly as CFDs. The German multi-currency cash equities launch represents a move to expand its product mix and further develop its presence in the retail investing segment beyond derivative instruments.
