CMC Marketsraised its full-year revenue guidance by roughly 10% after theLondon-listed brokerage (LSE: CMCX) recorded stronger-than-expected trading andstockbroking activity in the six months through September.CMC Markets Lifts RevenueOutlook 10% After Record Australian PerformanceThe fintechfirm reported net operating income of £186.2 million for the firsthalf, up 5% from the prior-year period. Profit before tax held steadyat £49.3 million, though the margin narrowed slightly to 26.5% from 27.9%a year earlier. The company attributed the compression to a £5.2million remediation charge tied to an industry-wide margin netting issuein Australia."Net operatingincome to be approximately 10% ahead of current marketexpectations for FY2026," the company said, referring toconsensus estimates of £353.9 million compiled internally.CMC's Australianstockbroking unit delivered a record half-year performance, with netoperating income climbing 34% to A$65.9 million.Assets under administration in the region increased 14% toapproximately A$91 billion. The companynow ranks as Australia's second-largest stockbroker by revenue,surpassing its contracts-for-difference operations in that market.Half-Year Performance MetricsWestpac Deal Expectedto Lift Trading Volumes 45%Theresults follow CMC's late September announcement of anextended partnership with Westpac Banking Corporation, Australia'ssecond-largest bank. Under the arrangement, Westpac andits St.George subsidiary will adopt CMC's white-label tradingplatforms after a 12-month integration period.CMCexpects the agreement to expand its Australian customer base byapproximately 40% and increase domestic trading volumes by roughly 45%.The partnership gives CMC access to Westpac's retail base of some 13million clients, though the company did not specify how many wouldactively use the platforms."Thisis a significant and exciting opportunity for CMC Markets andcontinues our strong record in Australia in winning major technologypartnerships with major banks," said Lord Peter Cruddas,the company's chief executive.The Westpacarrangement mirrors an earlier deal CMC struck with ANZ Bank. Bothpartnerships position the firm to expand itsinstitutional footprint without the direct client acquisitioncosts typically associated with retail brokerage.Revenue Breakdown by Business LineBlockchain Trial andEuropean API PushPost-period,CMC completed a live blockchain-based tokenized share trade through itssubsidiary StrikeX, using Arbitrum's Layer 2 network.The October trial involved transferring digitaltokens representing company shares between investorsusing a custodial digital wallet, which the firm said compliedwith UK regulations."WithStrikeX, we are embarking on a plan to tokenise securities and derivativesmarkets, so that investors can trade 24/7," said Laurence Booth,CMC's global head of capital markets.The companyalso announced an investment-grade rating of BBB- from FitchRatings and established a commercial paper program withcapacity of up to €300 million. CMC said it does not anticipateissuing the full amount initially and expects the overallcost to be minimal given the improved credit terms.Separately,CMC's API-based neobank partnership continued to grow, with thefirm now live in more than 30 European countries, many whereit has no physical presence. The API platform has openedhundreds of thousands of retail trading accounts over thepast year, with roughly 70% coming from countries where CMClacks offices.Costs Rise onRemediation and Dual OperationsOperatingexpenses increased 10% to £136.5 million, largely due to theAustralian remediation provision. Stripping out that charge,costs remained in line with internal forecasts, the companysaid.CMC notedit is incurring temporary dual-running costs as itshifts operational functions to lower-cost jurisdictionsthrough a partnership with an outsourcing provider. Thefirm expects those expenses to unwind over the next 12 to 18months, leading to improved profit margins.The boarddeclared an interim dividend of 5.5 pence per share, up 77%from 3.1 pence a year earlier, in line with its policy ofdistributing half of after-tax profits. Basic earnings per sharerose 4% to 13.3 pence.CMC'strading revenue, which accounts for roughly 74% of total income, grew 5%to £138.1 million, supported by volatility in commodities and equityindex products. The revised hedging strategy introduced in theprior fiscal year contributed to improved efficiency, the companysaid.Interest incomedeclined 15% to £20 million, reflecting higher payments toclients holding Cash ISA products. Assets in CMC's Cash ISAoffering peaked above £300 million during the period.CMCMarkets, founded in 1989 and headquartered in London, is listed on theLondon Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. Thecompany provides online trading in contracts fordifference, spread betting, foreign exchange, and stockbrokingservices across 12 countries.This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.