COT Bonds Charts: Large Speculator bets led by 2-Year & Ultra Treasury Bonds

November 17, 2024

By InvestMacro

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

The latest COT data is updated through Tuesday November 12th and shows a quick view of how large traders (for-profit speculators and commercial hedgers) were positioned in the futures markets.

Weekly Speculator Changes led by 2-Year & Ultra Treasury Bonds

The COT bond market speculator bets were slightly lower this week as four out of the nine bond markets we cover had higher positioning while the other five markets had lower speculator contracts.


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Leading the gains for the bond markets was the 2-Year Bonds (62,488 contracts) with the Ultra Treasury Bonds (23,124 contracts), the SOFR 1-Month (13,378 contracts) and the 10-Year Bonds (2,469 contracts) also showing positive weeks.

The bond markets with declines in speculator bets for the week were the SOFR 3-Months (-145,254 contracts), the 5-Year Bonds (-101,801 contracts), the Fed Funds (-21,463 contracts), the Ultra 10-Year Bonds (-16,352 contracts) and with the US Treasury Bonds (-4,017 contracts) also having lower bets on the week.


Bonds Net Speculators Leaderboard

Legend: Weekly Speculators Change | Speculators Current Net Position | Speculators Strength Score compared to last 3-Years (0-100 range)


Strength Scores led by Ultra Treasury Bonds & US Treasury Bonds

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 the Ultra Treasury Bonds (99 percent) and the US Treasury Bonds (69 percent) lead the bond markets this week. The Fed Funds (55 percent) come in as the next highest in the weekly strength scores.

On the downside, the 5-Year Bonds (0 percent) and the 2-Year Bonds (4 percent) come in at the lowest strength level currently and are in Extreme-Bearish territory (below 20 percent).

Strength Statistics:
Fed Funds (55.1 percent) vs Fed Funds previous week (59.0 percent)
2-Year Bond (4.0 percent) vs 2-Year Bond previous week (0.0 percent)
5-Year Bond (0.0 percent) vs 5-Year Bond previous week (5.8 percent)
10-Year Bond (31.0 percent) vs 10-Year Bond previous week (30.8 percent)
Ultra 10-Year Bond (27.9 percent) vs Ultra 10-Year Bond previous week (31.7 percent)
US Treasury Bond (68.9 percent) vs US Treasury Bond previous week (70.3 percent)
Ultra US Treasury Bond (99.5 percent) vs Ultra US Treasury Bond previous week (88.8 percent)
SOFR 1-Month (35.1 percent) vs SOFR 1-Month previous week (31.8 percent)
SOFR 3-Months (47.9 percent) vs SOFR 3-Months previous week (55.4 percent)


10-Year Bonds & US Treasury Bonds top the 6-Week Strength Trends

COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that the 10-Year Bonds (31 percent) and the US Treasury Bonds (19 percent) lead the past six weeks trends for bonds.

The Fed Funds (-45 percent) and the SOFR 3-Months (-43 percent) lead the downside trend scores currently with the 5-Year Bonds (-18 percent) and the Ultra 10-Year Bonds (-18 percent) following next with lower trend scores.

Strength Trend Statistics:
Fed Funds (-44.9 percent) vs Fed Funds previous week (-35.5 percent)
2-Year Bond (-15.6 percent) vs 2-Year Bond previous week (-27.9 percent)
5-Year Bond (-18.0 percent) vs 5-Year Bond previous week (-12.1 percent)
10-Year Bond (31.0 percent) vs 10-Year Bond previous week (19.6 percent)
Ultra 10-Year Bond (-17.5 percent) vs Ultra 10-Year Bond previous week (-23.6 percent)
US Treasury Bond (19.1 percent) vs US Treasury Bond previous week (40.0 percent)
Ultra US Treasury Bond (10.1 percent) vs Ultra US Treasury Bond previous week (0.9 percent)
SOFR 1-Month (14.5 percent) vs SOFR 1-Month previous week (-1.4 percent)
SOFR 3-Months (-43.1 percent) vs SOFR 3-Months previous week (-40.7 percent)


30-Day Federal Funds Futures:

Federal Funds 30-Day Bonds Futures COT ChartThe 30-Day Federal Funds large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of 2,437 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -21,463 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 23,900 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 55.1 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 43.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 68.5 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.

30-Day Federal Funds StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:9.062.82.0
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:8.862.42.6
– Net Position:2,4376,593-9,030
– Gross Longs:141,580990,05131,284
– Gross Shorts:139,143983,45840,314
– Long to Short Ratio:1.0 to 11.0 to 10.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):55.143.268.5
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-44.943.210.2

 


Secured Overnight Financing Rate (3-Month) Futures:

SOFR 3-Months Bonds Futures COT ChartThe Secured Overnight Financing Rate (3-Month) large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -239,881 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -145,254 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -94,627 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 47.9 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 52.5 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 82.9 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.

SOFR 3-Months StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:13.458.70.3
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:15.656.40.4
– Net Position:-239,881248,953-9,072
– Gross Longs:1,441,0646,328,02737,413
– Gross Shorts:1,680,9456,079,07446,485
– Long to Short Ratio:0.9 to 11.0 to 10.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):47.952.582.9
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-43.144.0-9.1

 


Individual Bond Markets:

Secured Overnight Financing Rate (1-Month) Futures:

SOFR 1-Month Bonds Futures COT ChartThe Secured Overnight Financing Rate (1-Month) large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -135,658 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly advance of 13,378 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -149,036 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 35.1 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 64.8 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 56.8 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Uptrend.

SOFR 1-Month StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:12.465.00.0
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:24.053.50.0
– Net Position:-135,658135,542116
– Gross Longs:146,041764,353207
– Gross Shorts:281,699628,81191
– Long to Short Ratio:0.5 to 11.2 to 12.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):35.164.856.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:14.5-14.76.3

 


2-Year Treasury Note Futures:

2-Year Treasury Bonds Futures COT ChartThe 2-Year Treasury Note large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -1,423,871 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly rise of 62,488 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -1,486,359 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 4.0 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 94.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 87.5 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Weak Uptrend.

2-Year Treasury Note StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:11.979.05.9
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:42.751.72.4
– Net Position:-1,423,8711,260,796163,075
– Gross Longs:551,7543,651,061274,880
– Gross Shorts:1,975,6252,390,265111,805
– Long to Short Ratio:0.3 to 11.5 to 12.5 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):4.094.687.5
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-15.620.3-9.5

 


5-Year Treasury Note Futures:

5-Year Treasury Bonds Futures COT ChartThe 5-Year Treasury Note large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -1,869,210 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -101,801 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -1,767,409 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 Bullish with a score of 77.6 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Weak Uptrend.

5-Year Treasury Note StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:6.984.96.5
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:35.957.84.5
– Net Position:-1,869,2101,740,989128,221
– Gross Longs:441,1445,459,346415,574
– Gross Shorts:2,310,3543,718,357287,353
– Long to Short Ratio:0.2 to 11.5 to 11.4 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):0.0100.077.6
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-18.028.0-16.1

 


10-Year Treasury Note Futures:

10-Year Treasury Notes Bonds Futures COT ChartThe 10-Year Treasury Note large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -815,801 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly gain of 2,469 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -818,270 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 31.0 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 70.8 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 79.3 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend.

10-Year Treasury Note StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:9.178.59.6
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:26.962.18.3
– Net Position:-815,801752,02963,772
– Gross Longs:419,1603,608,341443,088
– Gross Shorts:1,234,9612,856,312379,316
– Long to Short Ratio:0.3 to 11.3 to 11.2 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):31.070.879.3
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:31.0-29.2-19.4

 


Ultra 10-Year Notes Futures:

Ultra 10-Year Treasury Notes Bonds Futures COT ChartThe Ultra 10-Year Notes large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -156,791 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lowering of -16,352 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -140,439 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 27.9 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 63.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 67.6 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.

Ultra 10-Year Notes StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:15.174.29.8
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:22.263.613.3
– Net Position:-156,791233,234-76,443
– Gross Longs:332,7611,638,773217,334
– Gross Shorts:489,5521,405,539293,777
– Long to Short Ratio:0.7 to 11.2 to 10.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):27.963.067.6
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-17.528.8-8.4

 


US Treasury Bonds Futures:

US Year Treasury Notes Long Bonds Futures COT ChartThe US Treasury Bonds large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -41,768 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -4,017 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -37,751 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 68.9 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 23.5 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 58.7 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend.

US Treasury Bonds StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:22.063.710.2
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:24.264.57.2
– Net Position:-41,768-16,08357,851
– Gross Longs:425,1581,230,934197,990
– Gross Shorts:466,9261,247,017140,139
– Long to Short Ratio:0.9 to 11.0 to 11.4 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):68.923.558.7
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:19.1-1.3-34.6

 


Ultra US Treasury Bonds Futures:

Ultra US Year Treasury Notes Long Bonds Futures COT ChartThe Ultra US Treasury Bonds large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -241,284 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lift of 23,124 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -264,408 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 99.5 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 16.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 0.0 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend.

Ultra US Treasury Bonds StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:9.278.99.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:22.665.210.0
– Net Position:-241,284245,400-4,116
– Gross Longs:164,7341,420,045175,057
– Gross Shorts:406,0181,174,645179,173
– Long to Short Ratio:0.4 to 11.2 to 11.0 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):99.516.30.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bullish-ExtremeBearish-ExtremeBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:10.11.1-34.0

 


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*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.