COT Metals Charts: Speculator Bets led by Copper & Steel

October 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 Tuesday October 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 Copper & Steel

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


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Leading the gains for the metals was Copper (6,867 contracts) with Steel (732 contracts) and Palladium (584 contracts) also showing positive weeks.

The markets with declines in speculator bets for the week were Gold (-24,589 contracts) with Silver (-4,761 contracts) and Platinum (-4,710 contracts) also having lower bets on the week.


Data Snapshot of Commodity Market Traders | Columns Legend
Oct-03-2023 OI OI-Index Spec-Net Spec-Index Com-Net COM-Index Smalls-Net Smalls-Index
Gold 431,226 4 91,226 17 -111,982 81 20,756 32
Silver 125,847 14 15,344 40 -30,358 57 15,014 50
Copper 208,795 49 -21,912 12 19,952 88 1,960 31
Palladium 18,421 86 -9,718 9 9,861 93 -143 33
Platinum 81,529 85 2,616 22 -7,514 78 4,898 34

 


Strength Scores led by Steel & Silver

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 (65 percent) and Silver (40 percent) lead the metals markets this week.

On the downside, Palladium (9 percent), Copper (12 percent) and Gold (17 percent) come in at the lowest strength levels currently and are all in Extreme-Bearish territory (below 20 percent).

Strength Statistics:
Gold (17.2 percent) vs Gold previous week (28.0 percent)
Silver (40.1 percent) vs Silver previous week (46.9 percent)
Copper (11.9 percent) vs Copper previous week (6.0 percent)
Platinum (21.6 percent) vs Platinum previous week (32.5 percent)
Palladium (8.8 percent) vs Palladium previous week (4.9 percent)
Steel (65.4 percent) vs Palladium previous week (62.9 percent)

 

Silver & Platinum top the 6-Week Strength Trends

COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that Silver (4 percent) and Platinum (4 percent) lead the past six weeks trends for metals.

Steel (-6 percent), Gold (-5 percent) and Palladium (-2 percent) lead the downside trend scores currently.

Move Statistics:
Gold (-4.7 percent) vs Gold previous week (-2.3 percent)
Silver (3.5 percent) vs Silver previous week (17.5 percent)
Copper (2.3 percent) vs Copper previous week (-2.7 percent)
Platinum (4.1 percent) vs Platinum previous week (16.9 percent)
Palladium (-2.4 percent) vs Palladium previous week (-6.0 percent)
Steel (-5.8 percent) vs Steel previous week (-8.9 percent)


Individual Markets:

Gold Comex Futures:

The Gold Comex Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 91,226 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -24,589 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 115,815 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 17.2 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 80.7 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 32.0 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.

Gold Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 53.0 25.7 10.5
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 31.8 51.6 5.7
– Net Position: 91,226 -111,982 20,756
– Gross Longs: 228,406 110,666 45,256
– Gross Shorts: 137,180 222,648 24,500
– Long to Short Ratio: 1.7 to 1 0.5 to 1 1.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 17.2 80.7 32.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -4.7 3.5 4.2

 


Silver Comex Futures:

The Silver Comex Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 15,344 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -4,761 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 20,105 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 40.1 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 57.1 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 49.9 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.

Silver Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 40.8 30.0 22.6
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 28.7 54.1 10.6
– Net Position: 15,344 -30,358 15,014
– Gross Longs: 51,405 37,769 28,386
– Gross Shorts: 36,061 68,127 13,372
– Long to Short Ratio: 1.4 to 1 0.6 to 1 2.1 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 40.1 57.1 49.9
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 3.5 -7.9 22.9

 


Copper Grade #1 Futures:

The Copper Grade #1 Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -21,912 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lift of 6,867 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -28,779 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 11.9 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 88.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 30.8 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: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

Copper Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 33.2 41.1 7.6
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 43.7 31.5 6.7
– Net Position: -21,912 19,952 1,960
– Gross Longs: 69,273 85,785 15,950
– Gross Shorts: 91,185 65,833 13,990
– Long to Short Ratio: 0.8 to 1 1.3 to 1 1.1 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 11.9 88.2 30.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 2.3 -2.1 -1.0

 


Platinum Futures:

The Platinum Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 2,616 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lowering of -4,710 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 7,326 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 21.6 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 77.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 33.7 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.

Platinum Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 55.8 27.5 10.8
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 52.6 36.8 4.8
– Net Position: 2,616 -7,514 4,898
– Gross Longs: 45,496 22,452 8,772
– Gross Shorts: 42,880 29,966 3,874
– Long to Short Ratio: 1.1 to 1 0.7 to 1 2.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 21.6 77.9 33.7
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish Bullish Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: 4.1 -2.5 -7.7

 


Palladium Futures:

The Palladium Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -9,718 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 584 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -10,302 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 8.8 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 93.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 33.1 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: 21.8 59.9 8.6
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 74.5 6.4 9.4
– Net Position: -9,718 9,861 -143
– Gross Longs: 4,007 11,038 1,588
– Gross Shorts: 13,725 1,177 1,731
– Long to Short Ratio: 0.3 to 1 9.4 to 1 0.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 8.8 93.3 33.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bearish-Extreme Bullish-Extreme Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -2.4 1.1 11.5

 


Steel Futures Futures:

The Steel Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -5,487 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 732 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -6,219 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 65.4 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 35.4 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 19.4 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.

Steel Futures Statistics SPECULATORS COMMERCIALS SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs: 8.2 85.9 1.1
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts: 37.0 56.4 1.7
– Net Position: -5,487 5,606 -119
– Gross Longs: 1,560 16,354 214
– Gross Shorts: 7,047 10,748 333
– Long to Short Ratio: 0.2 to 1 1.5 to 1 0.6 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): 65.4 35.4 19.4
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): Bullish Bearish Bearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index: -5.8 5.7 3.2

 


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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