CMC Markets has expanded 24/5 US share trading to its CMC Invest platform, giving UK retail investors greater flexibility to trade and invest in US companies beyond the traditional market session.
The expansion also combines extended trading access with fractional investing, allowing clients to participate in US shares without necessarily buying a whole share.
The move means investors can respond to company announcements, earnings releases and other market developments outside the core US trading session, while choosing how much they want to invest.
Trading beyond the traditional market hours
US markets typically operate around a defined core trading session, but significant company and economic developments can happen outside those hours.
CMC Markets’ 24/5 offering is designed to give investors greater flexibility to respond to such developments during extended and overnight sessions.
For retail investors, this could provide more opportunities to act on market movements without waiting for the next traditional session to open.
The expansion forms part of CMC Markets’ broader investment in its multi asset platform as the company seeks to bring its trading and investing capabilities closer together.
Fractional investing adds another layer
Alongside extended trading hours, CMC Markets is making fractional investing available across its US share offering.
Fractional shares allow investors to purchase part of a share rather than committing to the full price of one share.
CMC Markets said fractional shares support all available order types, including market orders, during extended and overnight sessions.
The company is also offering investing at 0% commission, although other charges may apply.
The combination gives investors two forms of flexibility: they can choose when they want to access the market and how much they want to invest.
Responding to a more flexible retail market
Lachlan Rourke Davies, Senior Product Manager at CMC Markets, said the combination of both features is intended to give investors greater freedom.
“Bringing 24/5 trading and fractional investing together gives investors the freedom to respond when markets move and invest the amount that works for them.
“It’s a major step forward for CMC and another example of how we’re building a more flexible, modern investing experience.”
For CMC Markets, the development is part of a wider strategy to create a connected multi asset experience rather than treating trading and investing as separate propositions.
Laurence Booth, Global Head of Markets at CMC Markets, said the company is focused on giving clients greater control over how they access financial markets.
“We’re bringing CMC’s trading and investing capabilities together as we build the next phase of our global multi-asset offering.
“Our ambition is simple: to give clients greater freedom over when, where and how they access financial markets. US markets don’t stop moving when the core session closes, and now our clients don’t have to either.
“This is where we see the future of CMC. We have deep market expertise and technology across the business, and we’re bringing those capabilities together to give clients a best-in-class experience.”
A changing approach to US market access
The expansion reflects the broader push by financial platforms to make global markets more accessible to retail investors.
Rather than limiting investors to traditional market hours or whole share purchases, platforms are increasingly introducing features designed around flexibility, smaller investment amounts and extended access.
CMC Markets is positioning its latest offering within that shift, bringing extended access and fractional investing together on one platform.
For UK investors seeking exposure to US equities, the changes provide more flexibility around both the timing and size of their investments.
The development also highlights how technology continues to reshape the retail investing experience, particularly as investors increasingly expect access to global markets on terms that fit their individual schedules and investment preferences.
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