Financial Spread Betting

Financial spread betting at a glance

Spread Betting and CFDs are leveraged products. They carry a high level of risk and are not suitable for all investors. These products can result in losses that exceed your initial stake. You should only speculate with funds that you can afford to lose. Please make sure that you understand the risks involved and seek expert professional advice, if necessary.

In financial spread betting you predict how the prices of the products will change. Your profit or loss is measured in pounds (£) per point i.e. for each 'point' that the product changes, you gain or lose.

For example, the UK100 (CMC Spreadbet Plc's index based on a basket of the UK's leading 100 shares by market capitalisation) is available at a price of 6,140 / 6,142 in Marketmaker®.

That is, 6,140 to 'sell' and 6,142 to 'buy’.

If you believe the UK100 will rise, you can place a bet in which you 'buy' the UK100 at 6,142 for a stake of £5 per point.

Right? If the UK100 rises to a price of 6,165 / 6,167, you can then 'sell' your bet at 6,165. You would therefore have made £115 ( (6,165 – 6,142) x 5 =115)

Wrong? If the UK100 falls to 6,129 / 6,132, you would lose £65 ( (6,129 – 6,142) x 5 = -65).

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Services relating to Contracts for Difference are provided by CMC Markets UK Plc and Spread Betting Services are provided by CMC Spreadbet Plc (trading as NatWest Index) to whom you have been introduced by NatWest Stockbrokers Limited. All dealing, administration and settlement in relation to these services are undertaken by CMC Markets UK Plc and CMC Spreadbet Plc who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.


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