COT Stock Market Speculators rebooted their VIX Volatility bearish bets for 1st time in 5 weeks

January 3, 2022

By InvestMacro | COT | Data Tables | COT Leaders | Downloads | COT Newsletter

Here are the latest charts and statistics for the Commitment of Traders (COT) data published by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The latest release was delayed by the CFTC due to the New Year’s holiday.

The latest COT data is updated through Tuesday December 28th 2021 and shows a quick view of how large traders (for-profit speculators and commercial entities) were positioned in the futures markets.

Highlighting the COT stock market data is the rebound in the VIX Volatility futures bearish bets after multiple weeks of bullish buying. The speculative net position in the VIX futures saw bearish bets rise last week by 15,586 contracts following declining bearish positions in the previous four straight weeks and in six out of the previous seven weeks. VIX bearish positions had risen as high as -103,286 contracts on November 2nd before seeing traders shed their bearish bets sharply over the next six weeks.

The only stock market that saw higher speculator bets last week were Dow Jones Industrial Average Mini positions (8,107 contracts).

The markets with lower speculator bets on the week were the VIX (-15,586 contracts), S&P500 Mini (-33,087 contracts), Nasdaq Mini (-11,256 contracts), Russell 2000 Mini (-8,126 contracts), Nikkei 225 USD (-333 contracts), MSCI EAFE Mini (-8,779 contracts) and the MSCI Emerging Markets Mini (-2,219 contracts).


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Data Snapshot of Stock Market Traders | Columns Legend
Dec-28-2021 OI OI-Index Spec-Net Spec-Index Com-Net COM-Index Smalls-Net Smalls-Index
S&P500-Mini 2,287,852 1 103,294 84 -137,776 41 34,482 34
Nikkei 225 15,319 3 -7,795 40 6,861 64 934 39
Nasdaq-Mini 211,097 19 14,104 83 -15,035 17 931 46
DowJones-Mini 96,749 65 -1,158 34 -1,929 60 3,087 55
VIX 277,502 20 -47,195 71 56,225 31 -9,030 22
Nikkei 225 Yen 41,696 17 3,115 30 13,623 71 -16,738 46

 


VIX Volatility Futures:

The VIX Volatility large speculator standing this week equaled a net position of -47,195 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly fall of -15,586 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -31,609 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish with a score of 71.5 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 31.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 22.1 percent.

VIX Volatility Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 21.2 51.3 6.4
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 38.2 31.0 9.7
– Net Position: -47,195 56,225 -9,030
– Gross Longs: 58,799 142,296 17,818
– Gross Shorts: 105,994 86,071 26,848
– Long to Short Ratio: 0.6 to 1 1.7 to 1 0.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 71.5 31.2 22.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish Bearish Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 6.4 -7.0 8.2

 


S&P500 Mini Futures:

The S&P500 Mini large speculator standing this week equaled a net position of 103,294 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lowering of -33,087 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 136,381 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish-Extreme with a score of 84.2 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 41.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 33.6 percent.

S&P500 Mini Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 17.6 69.2 11.3
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 13.1 75.2 9.8
– Net Position: 103,294 -137,776 34,482
– Gross Longs: 403,614 1,582,654 259,664
– Gross Shorts: 300,320 1,720,430 225,182
– Long to Short Ratio: 1.3 to 1 0.9 to 1 1.2 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 84.2 41.2 33.6
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish-Extreme Bearish Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -1.6 2.2 -1.0

 


Dow Jones Mini Futures:

The Dow Jones Mini large speculator standing this week equaled a net position of -1,158 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly gain of 8,107 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -9,265 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 34.4 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 60.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 55.0 percent.

Dow Jones Mini Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 36.8 47.5 15.1
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 38.0 49.5 11.9
– Net Position: -1,158 -1,929 3,087
– Gross Longs: 35,616 45,963 14,621
– Gross Shorts: 36,774 47,892 11,534
– Long to Short Ratio: 1.0 to 1 1.0 to 1 1.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 34.4 60.0 55.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 3.9 -1.9 -8.6

 


Nasdaq Mini Futures:

The Nasdaq Mini large speculator standing this week equaled a net position of 14,104 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly fall of -11,256 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 25,360 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish-Extreme with a score of 82.9 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 17.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 46.1 percent.

Nasdaq Mini Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 32.8 49.3 16.8
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 26.2 56.4 16.4
– Net Position: 14,104 -15,035 931
– Gross Longs: 69,315 104,127 35,448
– Gross Shorts: 55,211 119,162 34,517
– Long to Short Ratio: 1.3 to 1 0.9 to 1 1.0 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 82.9 17.3 46.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish-Extreme Bearish-Extreme Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 0.4 -3.4 10.9

 


Russell 2000 Mini Futures:

The Russell 2000 Mini large speculator standing this week equaled a net position of -20,299 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -8,126 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -12,173 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 46.5 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 48.8 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 70.9 percent.

Russell 2000 Mini Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 15.8 76.7 6.8
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 20.2 75.2 3.9
– Net Position: -20,299 6,890 13,409
– Gross Longs: 72,956 353,989 31,421
– Gross Shorts: 93,255 347,099 18,012
– Long to Short Ratio: 0.8 to 1 1.0 to 1 1.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 46.5 48.8 70.9
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bearish Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -0.1 4.7 -19.9

 


Nikkei Stock Average (USD) Futures:

The Nikkei Stock Average (USD) large speculator standing this week equaled a net position of -7,795 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly fall of -333 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -7,462 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 40.4 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 64.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 38.8 percent.

Nikkei Stock Average Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 10.7 63.2 25.9
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 61.5 18.4 19.8
– Net Position: -7,795 6,861 934
– Gross Longs: 1,633 9,684 3,969
– Gross Shorts: 9,428 2,823 3,035
– Long to Short Ratio: 0.2 to 1 3.4 to 1 1.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 40.4 64.0 38.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -44.0 45.9 1.4

 


MSCI EAFE Mini Futures:

The MSCI EAFE Mini large speculator standing this week equaled a net position of 5,290 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -8,779 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 14,069 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish-Extreme with a score of 14.3 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 80.5 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 58.6 percent.

MSCI EAFE Mini Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 6.2 90.6 2.9
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 4.8 93.2 1.7
– Net Position: 5,290 -10,002 4,712
– Gross Longs: 23,909 349,662 11,330
– Gross Shorts: 18,619 359,664 6,618
– Long to Short Ratio: 1.3 to 1 1.0 to 1 1.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 14.3 80.5 58.6
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -8.0 -0.6 47.2

 


Article By InvestMacroReceive our weekly COT Reports by Email

*COT Report: The COT data, released weekly to the public each Friday, is updated through the most recent Tuesday (data is 3 days old) and shows a quick view of how large speculators or non-commercials (for-profit traders) were positioned in the futures markets.

The CFTC categorizes trader positions according to commercial hedgers (traders who use futures contracts for hedging as part of the business), non-commercials (large traders who speculate to realize trading profits) and nonreportable traders (usually small traders/speculators) as well as their open interest (contracts open in the market at time of reporting).See CFTC criteria here.

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