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 January 14th 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 Soybeans & Soybean Oil
The COT soft commodities markets speculator bets were higher this week as seven out of the eleven softs markets we cover had higher positioning while the other four markets had lower speculator contracts.
Leading the gains for the softs markets was Soybeans (64,519 contracts) with Soybean Oil (28,603 contracts), Corn (28,262 contracts), Coffee (8,508 contracts), Live Cattle (4,740 contracts) and Lean Hogs (3,797 contracts) also coming in with a positive week.
The markets with the declines in speculator bets this week were Sugar (-35,665 contracts), Soybean Meal (-3,865 contracts), Cotton (-3,657 contracts), Wheat (-2,735 contracts) and with Cocoa (1,066 contracts) also registering lower bets on the week.
Soft Commodities 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 Live Cattle & Coffee
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 Live Cattle (100 percent) and Coffee (97 percent) lead the softs markets this week. Lean Hogs (87 percent), Corn (78 percent) and Soybean Oil (60 percent) come in as the next highest in the weekly strength scores.
On the downside, Sugar (6 percent), Cotton (7 percent), Wheat (12 percent) and Soybean Meal (15 percent) come in at the lowest strength levels currently and are in Extreme-Bearish territory (below 20 percent).
Strength Statistics:
Corn (78.2 percent) vs Corn previous week (74.6 percent)
Sugar (6.4 percent) vs Sugar previous week (19.0 percent)
Coffee (96.7 percent) vs Coffee previous week (88.4 percent)
Soybeans (50.0 percent) vs Soybeans previous week (34.8 percent)
Soybean Oil (60.3 percent) vs Soybean Oil previous week (44.6 percent)
Soybean Meal (15.1 percent) vs Soybean Meal previous week (16.7 percent)
Live Cattle (100.0 percent) vs Live Cattle previous week (95.4 percent)
Lean Hogs (87.0 percent) vs Lean Hogs previous week (84.0 percent)
Cotton (7.0 percent) vs Cotton previous week (9.5 percent)
Cocoa (47.6 percent) vs Cocoa previous week (46.5 percent)
Wheat (11.9 percent) vs Wheat previous week (14.1 percent)
Soybeans & Corn top the 6-Week Strength Trends
COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that Soybeans (27 percent) and Corn (27 percent) lead the past six weeks trends for soft commodities. Live Cattle (25 percent), Coffee (6 percent) and Soybean Oil (4 percent) are the next highest positive movers in the latest trends data.
Sugar (-26 percent) leads the downside trend scores currently with Wheat (-16 percent), Cotton (-15 percent) and Lean Hogs (-12 percent) following next with lower trend scores.
Strength Trend Statistics:
Corn (26.8 percent) vs Corn previous week (23.3 percent)
Sugar (-26.1 percent) vs Sugar previous week (-9.3 percent)
Coffee (5.8 percent) vs Coffee previous week (-6.3 percent)
Soybeans (26.7 percent) vs Soybeans previous week (13.2 percent)
Soybean Oil (4.1 percent) vs Soybean Oil previous week (-16.3 percent)
Soybean Meal (1.6 percent) vs Soybean Meal previous week (4.0 percent)
Live Cattle (25.3 percent) vs Live Cattle previous week (23.9 percent)
Lean Hogs (-11.7 percent) vs Lean Hogs previous week (-6.6 percent)
Cotton (-14.9 percent) vs Cotton previous week (-10.2 percent)
Cocoa (-0.3 percent) vs Cocoa previous week (-3.0 percent)
Wheat (-16.4 percent) vs Wheat previous week (-21.7 percent)
Individual Soft Commodities Markets:
CORN Futures:
The CORN large speculator standing this week was a net position of 348,075 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly advance of 28,262 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 319,813 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 78.2 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 26.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 7.2 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Uptrend.
| CORN Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 29.0 | 43.8 | 6.3 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 10.1 | 58.6 | 10.4 |
| – Net Position: | 348,075 | -272,419 | -75,656 |
| – Gross Longs: | 534,428 | 805,779 | 116,368 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 186,353 | 1,078,198 | 192,024 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 2.9 to 1 | 0.7 to 1 | 0.6 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 78.2 | 26.3 | 7.2 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bullish | Bearish | Bearish-Extreme |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | 26.8 | -22.6 | -53.6 |
SUGAR Futures:
The SUGAR large speculator standing this week was a net position of 14,162 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -35,665 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 49,827 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 6.4 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 93.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 14.1 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend.
| SUGAR Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 23.1 | 54.1 | 6.6 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 21.7 | 55.2 | 7.0 |
| – Net Position: | 14,162 | -9,913 | -4,249 |
| – Gross Longs: | 228,583 | 534,962 | 64,921 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 214,421 | 544,875 | 69,170 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 1.1 to 1 | 1.0 to 1 | 0.9 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 6.4 | 93.6 | 14.1 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bearish-Extreme | Bullish-Extreme | Bearish-Extreme |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | -26.1 | 28.3 | -31.6 |
COFFEE Futures:
The COFFEE large speculator standing this week was a net position of 72,642 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly advance of 8,508 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 64,134 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 96.7 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 2.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 75.3 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Uptrend.
| COFFEE Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 43.1 | 30.6 | 5.7 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 4.4 | 71.3 | 3.7 |
| – Net Position: | 72,642 | -76,440 | 3,798 |
| – Gross Longs: | 80,944 | 57,474 | 10,766 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 8,302 | 133,914 | 6,968 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 9.7 to 1 | 0.4 to 1 | 1.5 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 96.7 | 2.3 | 75.3 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bullish-Extreme | Bearish-Extreme | Bullish |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | 5.8 | -6.4 | 11.0 |
SOYBEANS Futures:
The SOYBEANS large speculator standing this week was a net position of 14,518 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly gain of 64,519 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -50,001 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 50.0 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 53.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 26.6 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Downtrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Weak Downtrend.
| SOYBEANS Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 22.5 | 55.6 | 4.7 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 20.8 | 53.4 | 8.7 |
| – Net Position: | 14,518 | 18,411 | -32,929 |
| – Gross Longs: | 186,047 | 459,142 | 38,496 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 171,529 | 440,731 | 71,425 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 1.1 to 1 | 1.0 to 1 | 0.5 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 50.0 | 53.3 | 26.6 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bearish | Bullish | Bearish |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | 26.7 | -24.1 | -41.1 |
SOYBEAN OIL Futures:
The SOYBEAN OIL large speculator standing this week was a net position of 34,403 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly gain of 28,603 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 5,800 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 60.3 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 46.1 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 12.4 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Uptrend.
| SOYBEAN OIL Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 23.4 | 55.0 | 5.1 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 17.3 | 61.0 | 5.2 |
| – Net Position: | 34,403 | -33,971 | -432 |
| – Gross Longs: | 132,019 | 310,204 | 28,665 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 97,616 | 344,175 | 29,097 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 1.4 to 1 | 0.9 to 1 | 1.0 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 60.3 | 46.1 | 12.4 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bullish | Bearish | Bearish-Extreme |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | 4.1 | -0.8 | -22.7 |
SOYBEAN MEAL Futures:
The SOYBEAN MEAL large speculator standing this week was a net position of -30,026 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -3,865 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -26,161 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 15.1 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 82.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 41.8 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend.
| SOYBEAN MEAL Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 17.5 | 50.0 | 9.0 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 22.9 | 48.0 | 5.6 |
| – Net Position: | -30,026 | 10,882 | 19,144 |
| – Gross Longs: | 97,806 | 278,713 | 50,339 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 127,832 | 267,831 | 31,195 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 0.8 to 1 | 1.0 to 1 | 1.6 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 15.1 | 82.0 | 41.8 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bearish-Extreme | Bullish-Extreme | Bearish |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | 1.6 | -0.1 | -16.2 |
LIVE CATTLE Futures:
The LIVE CATTLE large speculator standing this week was a net position of 123,285 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly rise of 4,740 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 118,545 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 100.0 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 4.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 0.0 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Uptrend.
| LIVE CATTLE Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 51.9 | 27.1 | 7.0 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 18.6 | 53.2 | 14.2 |
| – Net Position: | 123,285 | -96,439 | -26,846 |
| – Gross Longs: | 192,036 | 100,399 | 25,870 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 68,751 | 196,838 | 52,716 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 2.8 to 1 | 0.5 to 1 | 0.5 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 100.0 | 4.9 | 0.0 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bullish-Extreme | Bearish-Extreme | Bearish-Extreme |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | 25.3 | -28.7 | -8.8 |
LEAN HOGS Futures:
The LEAN HOGS large speculator standing this week was a net position of 76,542 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 3,797 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 72,745 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 87.0 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 11.7 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 34.4 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Uptrend.
| LEAN HOGS Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 43.2 | 32.7 | 7.3 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 17.7 | 55.7 | 9.8 |
| – Net Position: | 76,542 | -69,200 | -7,342 |
| – Gross Longs: | 129,741 | 98,041 | 21,949 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 53,199 | 167,241 | 29,291 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 2.4 to 1 | 0.6 to 1 | 0.7 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 87.0 | 11.7 | 34.4 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bullish-Extreme | Bearish-Extreme | Bearish |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | -11.7 | 11.7 | 8.8 |
COTTON Futures:
The COTTON large speculator standing this week was a net position of -35,741 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -3,657 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -32,084 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 7.0 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 91.7 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 18.3 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend.
| COTTON Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 24.7 | 48.5 | 5.7 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 38.6 | 34.7 | 5.6 |
| – Net Position: | -35,741 | 35,448 | 293 |
| – Gross Longs: | 63,438 | 124,563 | 14,607 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 99,179 | 89,115 | 14,314 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 0.6 to 1 | 1.4 to 1 | 1.0 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 7.0 | 91.7 | 18.3 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bearish-Extreme | Bullish-Extreme | Bearish-Extreme |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | -14.9 | 13.5 | 1.9 |
COCOA Futures:
The COCOA large speculator standing this week was a net position of 36,860 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly gain of 1,066 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 35,794 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 47.6 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 49.8 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 65.3 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Uptrend.
| COCOA Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 39.4 | 38.6 | 9.0 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 9.9 | 73.1 | 4.0 |
| – Net Position: | 36,860 | -43,101 | 6,241 |
| – Gross Longs: | 49,216 | 48,250 | 11,182 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 12,356 | 91,351 | 4,941 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 4.0 to 1 | 0.5 to 1 | 2.3 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 47.6 | 49.8 | 65.3 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bearish | Bearish | Bullish |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | -0.3 | 0.5 | -1.6 |
WHEAT Futures:
The WHEAT large speculator standing this week was a net position of -82,209 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -2,735 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -79,474 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 84.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 71.7 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend.
| WHEAT Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 29.2 | 34.5 | 7.1 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 46.5 | 17.8 | 6.6 |
| – Net Position: | -82,209 | 79,485 | 2,724 |
| – Gross Longs: | 138,772 | 164,182 | 33,946 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 220,981 | 84,697 | 31,222 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 0.6 to 1 | 1.9 to 1 | 1.1 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 11.9 | 84.6 | 71.7 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bearish-Extreme | Bullish-Extreme | Bullish |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | -16.4 | 10.5 | 41.8 |
Article By InvestMacro – Receive 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.
