Lord Cruddas loses £20m as shares in CMC Markets tumble 10%

Updated: 08:24 BST, 26 August 2023

Big hit: Tory peer Lord Cruddas

Tory peer Lord Cruddas saw £20million wiped off his wealth as shares in his spreadbetting company tumbled.

In a bleak update to the stock market, CMC Markets said it expects a drop in full-year profits following subdued trading by clients in August.

Shares in the company fell 9.7 per cent, or 11.8p, to 110.2p, cutting the value of the 62 per cent combined stake held by Cruddas and his wife Fiona by £20m to £190m.

The stock is now at its lowest level for four years, having fallen 80 per cent since its peak during the pandemic when trading boomed.

Trading platforms are struggling with a slowdown in client activity as market volatility eased from highs seen during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The company said it expects full-year profits of £250million to £280million – lower than the £288.4million it posted last year.

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Peel Hunt analysts said: ‘This is clearly disappointing, and is another reminder that CMC can suffer from periods of subdued trading activity.’

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