Automated Order Types and Execution | CFDs

Est. 1989

1.5m+ global traders and investors¹

LSE listed*

2025 WINNER

No.1 Commissions & Fees

ADVFN International Financial Awards

2024 WINNER

Best Mobile Trading Platform

ForexBrokers.com Awards

2023 WINNER

Best Forex Broker

Good Money Guide Awards

Multiple order types

Our range of order types allow flexible order placement, while our risk-management tools are customizable and easy to use. You can set default stop-loss and take-profit orders to manage your risk on every trade. It's important to be aware that most stop-order types – except guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLOs) – are susceptible to the possibility of market slippage and gapping.

Guaranteed stop-loss orders

For a premium, our GSLOs give you 100% certainty that your stop-loss will be executed at the exact price you want, regardless of market volatility or gapping. We refund the premium if the GSLO is not triggered.

More about GSLOs

Market orders

Use market orders to open or close trades at the current market price. Our automated execution means market orders get filled at the next available price.

Limit and stop entry orders

Limit orders and stop-entry orders are used to trigger a trade execution at a specific price above or below the current market price, and within a set time period.

Partially close trades

It's possible to close only a portion of existing trades. For example, if you have four CFD trades of 2 units each on the US 30, you can choose to close out one part (2 units), leaving the other three trades in place.

Stop-loss orders

Stop-loss orders allow you to specify a price at which a position will be closed out by the platform, if the market moves against you.

Trailing stop-loss orders

A trailing stop-loss will follow a price as it moves favourably for you, remaining at the distance specified when the order was placed.

Take-profit orders

Take profit orders are used to set a predetermined target level at which you would like the platform to close a trade and secure the profit from that trade.

Advanced order features

The CMC platform includes a range of advanced order features that facilitate control, flexibility and customization on your orders and trade execution.

Trade from charts

Open, close and amend orders directly from charts and view levels against historical price action. Once a position has been opened, select the triangular trade entry icon on the chart and drag stop-loss and take-profit levels to change them.

One-click trading allows you to place trades immediately by choosing any streaming buy or sell price. Your usual default risk management and order settings will be applied automatically.

Use boundary orders in volatile markets

Control slippage in volatile markets by specifying a boundary price range in the order ticket. If the price at execution is outside this range, then the order will be rejected. Available on market and stop-entry orders.

Price ladder trading for large orders

Our price ladder displays prices for trades that are larger than what's available at the first bid and offer price. It lets you enter trades which you otherwise wouldn't be able to enter, with just one order, but with a wider spread.

Our automated trade execution ensures that positions up to our maximum trade size will always be executed through price ladder trading.

Go long and short simultaneously

With account netting disabled (via 'Account Settings'), it's possible to place long and short trades on the same product at the same time.

Trade using unrealized profit

If a trade is in profit, you can use this unrealized profit to open new trades, thus taking advantage of other opportunities without having to close profitable trades.

Pre-set order preferences

Set default order preferences for all, or specific instruments. You can turn off pre-order confirmations and set last trade size, stop-loss and take-profit orders as default.

Rollover discount on forwards

When you manually roll a forward to the next contract, you enter the new trade at the mid-price and save 50% on the spread cost. You can also set forward settlement behaviour to automatically roll over, so the rule is applied to all your forward positions.

Execution alerts

Set up alerts to notify you when important price levels are breached, or when your pending orders are triggered. Receive platform pop-ups and set alerts to be emailed, sent by SMS, or pushed to your mobile device.

Via email, SMS or push

Get trade execution alerts, including mobile push notifications, when pending orders (such as stop-entry, limit, stop-loss or take-profit orders) are executed in your account.

To complement execution alerts, we also offer price alerts. These enable you to receive notifications when the price of an instrument that you're interested in reaches a significant level you've specified, such as a major support or resistance level.

How to set up trading alerts

Account close-out

You can choose the account close-out method³ used by the platform to automatically close out your trades if your account revaluation amount⁴ falls below your close-out level. Change the close-out method from the account settings menu on the platform.

Complete close-out

This is the default setting, where all trades on your account are closed out.⁵

Last trade in, first out

This option will start by closing your most recent trade first, or a portion of it. Then the next most recent trade will be reduced or closed if necessary, and so on.

Largest position loss first

This option will start by closing the position showing the largest unrealized loss first, or portions of it, on a first in, first out basis.

Largest position margin first

This option will first close the position with the largest position margin, or portions of it, on a first in, first out basis.

FAQs

New to order execution?

What is a stop-loss order?

A stop-loss order is a regular market order that can help to manage your risk by closing a trade at a pre-determined price. This risk-management tool can help to minimize any losses on a trade. Besides a classic stop-loss order, trailing stop-loss orders and guaranteed stop-loss orders are also available to use.

What is a limit-order?

A limit order is a trade order to 'buy' or 'sell' an instrument at a specific price. A buying limit order can only be placed at the market price or lower, while a selling limit order can only be placed at the market value or higher. A limit order helps to give a trader more control as to what price they will pay for an asset, and are placed with an expiration date. A good way to understand limit orders is by placing practice trades with $10,000 of risk-free virtual funds on our demo account.

What is a market order?

A market order is a buy or sell order for a financial asset at its prevailing price. It’s well suited to high-volume trades in particular, as it’s considered to be the fastest type of order. A trader will usually place a market order if they are happy to pay the immediate bid or ask price.

What are trade order?

A trade order is a type of order that is placed to open a trade, involving the buying or selling of an instrument at a certain price.

New to CMC Markets?

Is it free to open an account?

There's no cost when opening a live trading account with us. You can also view prices and use tools such as charts, Reuters news or Morningstar quantitative equity reports, free of charge. However, you'll need to deposit funds in your account to place a trade.

Is CMC Markets regulated?

Yes, CMC Markets Canada Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). CFDs are distributed in Canada by CMC Markets Canada Inc. acting as principal.

How does CMC Markets protect my money?

As a CMC client, your money is held separately from CMC Markets’ own money and is held on trust in segregated bank accounts with a Canadian bank. This account is opened and maintained in the name of CMC Markets Canada Inc. We do not use client money to hedge our positions or to meet the trading obligations of other customers. This offers you financial security and you can rest assured that your money with us is protected.

How does CMC Markets make money?

Our income primarily comes from our spreads, while other fees, such as overnight holding costs, make a minor contribution to our overall revenue.

What can I trade on with CMC Markets?

You can trade on 11,000+ financial instruments when you trade CFDs with us. Take a look at our popular markets and instruments.

Do you have any questions?

Our client services team is here whenever the markets are open. Email us at [email protected] or call us on 1-866-884-2608.

¹1.555 million unique user logins for the CMC Markets invest and CFD platforms globally, as at August 2024. Includes CFD trading, spread betting (UK & Ireland) and stockbroking (Australia).

²If at account close-out you have an open position in a product that is greater than the maximum CFD margin trade size in that product, then the account close-out will be performed on a 'last in, first out' basis, irrespective of which account close-out method has been selected.

³Cash + net unrealized profit or loss.

⁴Each of the account close-out methodologies is applied to the CMC products that are within their applicable trading hours and where trading is not otherwise suspended. After any initial account close-out, as and when the trading hours for any remaining positions on your account recommence and/or remaining positions on your account cease to be suspended, one or more subsequent account close-outs may be carried out. Trades relating to the same CMC product may be aggregated by our platform during an account close-out, in which case each relevant trade will be closed at the relevant sell price or buy price on the price ladder, applicable to a market order for the aggregated number of units. Each initial alternative close-out or subsequent alternative close-out will attempt to increase your account revaluation amount above the reset level. (The reset level is a percentage of your total margin displayed on the platform at any given time.) If following the completion of any initial alternative close-out or subsequent alternative close-out your account revaluation amount increases above the close-out level, then the alternative account close-out will stop.

Order types and execution