COT Metals Charts: Weekly Speculator Changes led by Gold

July 8, 2023

By InvestMacro

Here are the latest charts and statistics for the Commitment of Traders (COT) data published by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

The latest COT data is updated through Monday July 3rd and shows a quick view of how large traders (for-profit speculators and commercial entities) were positioned in the futures markets.

Weekly Speculator Changes led by Gold

The COT metals markets speculator bets were lower this week as two out of the six metals markets we cover had higher positioning while the other four markets had lower speculator contracts.


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Leading the gains for the metals was Gold (11,187 contracts) with Steel (1,150 contracts) also showing a positive week.

The markets with declines in speculator bets for the week were Copper (-11,702 contracts), Palladium (-566 contracts), Platinum (-4,093 contracts) and Silver (-1,062 contracts) also registering lower bets on the week.


Data Snapshot of Commodity Market Traders | Columns Legend
Jul-03-2023 OI OI-Index Spec-Net Spec-Index Com-Net COM-Index Smalls-Net Smalls-Index
Gold 448,063 12 163,097 49 -184,717 53 21,620 34
Silver 114,421 0 17,990 44 -29,569 58 11,579 31
Copper 204,399 46 1,888 32 -4,003 68 2,115 32
Palladium 14,781 100 -7,890 0 8,358 100 -468 14
Platinum 69,383 70 8,067 34 -13,570 65 5,503 42

 


Strength Scores led by Steel & Gold

COT Strength Scores (a normalized measure of Speculator positions over a 3-Year range, from 0 to 100 where above 80 is Extreme-Bullish and below 20 is Extreme-Bearish) showed that Steel (73 percent) and Gold (49 percent) lead the metals markets this week.

On the downside, Palladium (0 percent)comes in at the lowest strength level currently and is in Extreme-Bearish territory (below 20 percent).

Strength Statistics:
Gold (48.9 percent) vs Gold previous week (43.9 percent)
Silver (43.9 percent) vs Silver previous week (45.4 percent)
Copper (23.3 percent) vs Copper previous week (33.4 percent)
Platinum (34.2 percent) vs Platinum previous week (43.6 percent)
Palladium (0.0 percent) vs Palladium previous week (4.9 percent)
Steel (72.8 percent) vs Palladium previous week (69.5 percent)

 

Copper & Steel top the 6-Week Strength Trends

COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that Copper (23 percent) and Steel (15 percent) lead the past six weeks trends for metals.

Platinum (-45 percent) leads the downside trend scores currently.

Move Statistics:
Gold (1.0 percent) vs Gold previous week (-12.3 percent)
Silver (-5.7 percent) vs Silver previous week (-6.8 percent)
Copper (18.2 percent) vs Copper previous week (30.7 percent)
Platinum (-44.8 percent) vs Platinum previous week (-31.5 percent)
Palladium (-22.4 percent) vs Palladium previous week (-20.7 percent)
Steel (15.0 percent) vs Steel previous week (9.1 percent)


Individual Markets:

Gold Comex Futures:

The Gold Comex Futures large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of 163,097 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly boost of 11,187 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 151,910 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 48.9 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 52.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 34.1 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Weak Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

Gold Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 52.5 25.6 10.2
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 16.1 66.9 5.3
– Net Position: 163,097 -184,717 21,620
– Gross Longs: 235,081 114,905 45,490
– Gross Shorts: 71,984 299,622 23,870
– Long to Short Ratio: 3.3 to 1 0.4 to 1 1.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 48.9 52.6 34.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 1.0 0.9 -11.7

 


Silver Comex Futures:

The Silver Comex Futures large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of 17,990 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lowering of -1,062 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 19,052 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 43.9 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 58.1 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 30.7 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Weak Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

Silver Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 40.6 33.0 20.1
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 24.9 58.9 10.0
– Net Position: 17,990 -29,569 11,579
– Gross Longs: 46,433 37,784 23,020
– Gross Shorts: 28,443 67,353 11,441
– Long to Short Ratio: 1.6 to 1 0.6 to 1 2.0 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 43.9 58.1 30.7
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -5.7 6.5 -8.0

 


Copper Grade #1 Futures:

The Copper Grade #1 Futures large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -8,762 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly fall of -11,702 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 2,940 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 23.3 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 77.1 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 32.0 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

Copper Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 31.7 42.4 8.2
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 30.7 44.4 7.2
– Net Position: 1,888 -4,003 2,115
– Gross Longs: 64,740 86,761 16,759
– Gross Shorts: 62,852 90,764 14,644
– Long to Short Ratio: 1.0 to 1 1.0 to 1 1.1 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 32.5 68.3 31.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 23.1 -19.7 -19.0

 


Platinum Futures:

The Platinum Futures large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of 8,067 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lowering of -4,093 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 12,160 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 34.2 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 65.4 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 41.8 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: New Sell – Short Position.

Platinum Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 52.5 28.6 13.0
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 40.9 48.2 5.1
– Net Position: 8,067 -13,570 5,503
– Gross Longs: 36,443 19,856 9,026
– Gross Shorts: 28,376 33,426 3,523
– Long to Short Ratio: 1.3 to 1 0.6 to 1 2.6 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 34.2 65.4 41.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -44.8 38.4 11.0

 


Palladium Futures:

The Palladium Futures large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -7,890 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -566 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -7,324 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 0.0 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 100.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 13.6 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

Palladium Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 22.6 63.1 9.9
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 76.0 6.6 13.1
– Net Position: -7,890 8,358 -468
– Gross Longs: 3,342 9,330 1,463
– Gross Shorts: 11,232 972 1,931
– Long to Short Ratio: 0.3 to 1 9.6 to 1 0.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 0.0 100.0 13.6
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme Bearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -22.4 21.0 -5.3

 


Steel Futures Futures:

The Steel Futures large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -130 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly boost of 1,150 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -1,280 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 72.8 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 26.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 40.6 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

Steel Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 17.5 74.9 1.3
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 18.1 75.1 0.7
– Net Position: -130 -28 158
– Gross Longs: 4,129 17,669 312
– Gross Shorts: 4,259 17,697 154
– Long to Short Ratio: 1.0 to 1 1.0 to 1 2.0 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 72.8 26.9 40.6
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish Bearish Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 15.0 -16.0 40.6

 


Article By InvestMacroReceive our weekly COT Newsletter

*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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