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 July 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 Copper & Steel
The COT metals markets speculator bets were overall lower this week as just two out of the six metals markets we cover had higher positioning while the other four markets had lower speculator contracts.
Leading the gains for the metals was Copper (113 contracts) with Steel (26 contracts) also showing a small positive week.
The markets with declines in speculator bets for the week were Gold (-7,564 contracts), Silver (-2,941 contracts), Palladium (-231 contracts) and with Platinum (-124 contracts) also registering lower bets on the week.
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Steel leads Metals Markets Price Performances this week
In the major Metals markets this week, Steel led the gains with a modest 0.89% rise. Copper was virtually unchanged with an edge higher by 0.13% on the week and rounds out the gainers.
On the downside, Platinum dipped by -0.67%, followed by Palladium, which declined by -0.87%.
Gold was modestly lower by -1.60% on the week and was followed by Silver, which rounded out as the biggest decliner on the week with a -5.15% decrease.
Metals Data:
Legend: Weekly Speculators Change | Speculators Current Net Position | Speculators Strength Score compared to last 3-Years (0-100 range)
Strength Scores led by Copper & Steel
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 Copper (87 percent) and Steel (71 percent) lead the metals markets this week. Palladium (60 percent) comes in as the next highest in the weekly strength scores.
On the downside, Silver (29 percent) comes in at the lowest strength level currently while the next lowest strength score was Platinum (45 percent).
Strength Statistics:
Gold (47.2 percent) vs Gold previous week (50.3 percent)
Silver (29.0 percent) vs Silver previous week (34.0 percent)
Copper (87.0 percent) vs Copper previous week (86.9 percent)
Platinum (45.4 percent) vs Platinum previous week (45.7 percent)
Palladium (59.6 percent) vs Palladium previous week (61.1 percent)
Steel (71.5 percent) vs Steel previous week (71.4 percent)
Gold & Silver top the 6-Week Strength Trends
COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that Gold (4 percent) and Silver (2 percent) lead the past six weeks trends for metals.
Palladium (-19 percent), Copper (-13 percent) and Steel (-10 percent) lead the downside trend scores currently.
Move Statistics:
Gold (4.4 percent) vs Gold previous week (16.4 percent)
Silver (1.9 percent) vs Silver previous week (9.8 percent)
Copper (-13.0 percent) vs Copper previous week (-7.9 percent)
Platinum (-8.7 percent) vs Platinum previous week (-9.5 percent)
Palladium (-19.0 percent) vs Palladium previous week (-11.7 percent)
Steel (-10.4 percent) vs Steel previous week (-14.0 percent)
Individual Markets:
Gold Comex Futures Futures:
Positioning Notes:
- Gold Comex Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 186,682 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday.
- Weekly Speculator position reduction of -7,564 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 194,246 net contracts.
- This week’s current strength score (range over the past 3 years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 47.2 percent.
- The Commercials are Bullish with a score of 50.1 percent.
- The Small Traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 48.1 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend.
| Gold Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 59.2 | 20.8 | 11.6 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 10.6 | 76.7 | 4.3 |
| – Net Position: | 186,682 | -214,788 | 28,106 |
| – Gross Longs: | 227,310 | 79,639 | 44,419 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 40,628 | 294,427 | 16,313 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 5.6 to 1 | 0.3 to 1 | 2.7 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 47.2 | 50.1 | 48.1 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bearish | Bullish | Bearish |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | 4.4 | -3.4 | -6.5 |
Silver Comex Futures Futures:
Positioning Notes:
- Silver Comex Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 25,074 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday.
- Weekly Speculator position decline of -2,941 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 28,015 net contracts.
- This week’s current strength score (range over the past 3 years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 29.0 percent.
- The Commercials are Bullish with a score of 69.2 percent.
- The Small Traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 49.2 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend.
| Silver Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 34.5 | 31.3 | 25.4 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 10.6 | 71.9 | 8.7 |
| – Net Position: | 25,074 | -42,597 | 17,523 |
| – Gross Longs: | 36,246 | 32,919 | 26,702 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 11,172 | 75,516 | 9,179 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 3.2 to 1 | 0.4 to 1 | 2.9 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 29.0 | 69.2 | 49.2 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bearish | Bullish | Bearish |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | 1.9 | 0.1 | -6.7 |
Copper Grade #1 Futures Futures:
Positioning Notes:
- Copper Grade #1 Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 64,385 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday.
- Weekly Speculator position lift of 113 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 64,272 net contracts.
- This week’s current strength score (range over the past 3 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 12.6 percent.
- The Small Traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 62.0 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Uptrend.
| Copper Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 38.2 | 33.7 | 7.4 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 13.4 | 62.0 | 3.8 |
| – Net Position: | 64,385 | -73,616 | 9,231 |
| – Gross Longs: | 99,236 | 87,545 | 19,130 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 34,851 | 161,161 | 9,899 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 2.8 to 1 | 0.5 to 1 | 1.9 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 87.0 | 12.6 | 62.0 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bullish-Extreme | Bearish-Extreme | Bullish |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | -13.0 | 12.6 | -3.0 |
Platinum Futures Futures:
Positioning Notes:
- Platinum Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 13,748 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday.
- Weekly Speculator position fall of -124 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 13,872 net contracts.
- This week’s current strength score (range over the past 3 years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 45.4 percent.
- The Commercials are Bullish with a score of 61.1 percent.
- The Small Traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 42.8 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend.
| Platinum Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 41.7 | 33.3 | 14.4 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 16.2 | 66.0 | 7.2 |
| – Net Position: | 13,748 | -17,586 | 3,838 |
| – Gross Longs: | 22,461 | 17,941 | 7,735 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 8,713 | 35,527 | 3,897 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 2.6 to 1 | 0.5 to 1 | 2.0 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 45.4 | 61.1 | 42.8 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bearish | Bullish | Bearish |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | -8.7 | 14.8 | -26.9 |
Palladium Futures Futures:
Positioning Notes:
- Palladium Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -4,889 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday.
- Weekly Speculator position lowering of -231 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -4,658 net contracts.
- This week’s current strength score (range over the past 3 years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish with a score of 59.6 percent.
- The Commercials are Bearish with a score of 44.7 percent.
- The Small Traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 35.0 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend.
| Palladium Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 36.1 | 46.8 | 11.9 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 62.4 | 23.1 | 9.3 |
| – Net Position: | -4,889 | 4,416 | 473 |
| – Gross Longs: | 6,698 | 8,699 | 2,206 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 11,587 | 4,283 | 1,733 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 0.6 to 1 | 2.0 to 1 | 1.3 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 59.6 | 44.7 | 35.0 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bullish | Bearish | Bearish |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | -19.0 | 19.1 | -8.4 |
Steel Futures Futures:
Positioning Notes:
- Steel Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 8,389 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday.
- Weekly Speculator position boost of 26 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 8,363 net contracts.
- This week’s current strength score (range over the past 3 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 29.2 percent.
- The Small Traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 48.2 percent.
Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend
Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Uptrend.
| Steel Futures Statistics | SPECULATORS | COMMERCIALS | SMALL TRADERS |
| – Percent of Open Interest Longs: | 28.2 | 64.5 | 0.6 |
| – Percent of Open Interest Shorts: | 7.4 | 85.8 | 0.2 |
| – Net Position: | 8,389 | -8,562 | 173 |
| – Gross Longs: | 11,356 | 26,004 | 261 |
| – Gross Shorts: | 2,967 | 34,566 | 88 |
| – Long to Short Ratio: | 3.8 to 1 | 0.8 to 1 | 3.0 to 1 |
| NET POSITION TREND: | |||
| – Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct): | 71.5 | 29.2 | 48.2 |
| – Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range): | Bullish | Bearish | Bearish |
| NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX: | |||
| – 6-Week Change in Strength Index: | -10.4 | 12.4 | -51.8 |
Article By InvestMacro – Receive 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.
All information and opinions on this website and contained in this article are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice.
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