Archive for COT Updates – Page 5

Commitment of Traders Data – Weekly Updates for the Futures Markets

COT Soft Commodities Charts: Weekly Speculator Wagers led by Soybeans & Soybean Oil

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:

CORN Futures COT ChartThe 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 StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:29.043.86.3
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:10.158.610.4
– Net Position:348,075-272,419-75,656
– Gross Longs:534,428805,779116,368
– Gross Shorts:186,3531,078,198192,024
– Long to Short Ratio:2.9 to 10.7 to 10.6 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):78.226.37.2
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:26.8-22.6-53.6

 


SUGAR Futures:

SUGAR Futures COT ChartThe 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 StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:23.154.16.6
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:21.755.27.0
– Net Position:14,162-9,913-4,249
– Gross Longs:228,583534,96264,921
– Gross Shorts:214,421544,87569,170
– Long to Short Ratio:1.1 to 11.0 to 10.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):6.493.614.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-26.128.3-31.6

 


COFFEE Futures:

COFFEE Futures COT ChartThe 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 StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:43.130.65.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:4.471.33.7
– Net Position:72,642-76,4403,798
– Gross Longs:80,94457,47410,766
– Gross Shorts:8,302133,9146,968
– Long to Short Ratio:9.7 to 10.4 to 11.5 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):96.72.375.3
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bullish-ExtremeBearish-ExtremeBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:5.8-6.411.0

 


SOYBEANS Futures:

SOYBEANS Futures COT ChartThe 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 StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:22.555.64.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:20.853.48.7
– Net Position:14,51818,411-32,929
– Gross Longs:186,047459,14238,496
– Gross Shorts:171,529440,73171,425
– Long to Short Ratio:1.1 to 11.0 to 10.5 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):50.053.326.6
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:26.7-24.1-41.1

 


SOYBEAN OIL Futures:

SOYBEAN OIL Futures COT ChartThe 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 StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:23.455.05.1
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:17.361.05.2
– Net Position:34,403-33,971-432
– Gross Longs:132,019310,20428,665
– Gross Shorts:97,616344,17529,097
– Long to Short Ratio:1.4 to 10.9 to 11.0 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):60.346.112.4
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:4.1-0.8-22.7

 


SOYBEAN MEAL Futures:

SOYBEAN MEAL Futures COT ChartThe 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 StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:17.550.09.0
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:22.948.05.6
– Net Position:-30,02610,88219,144
– Gross Longs:97,806278,71350,339
– Gross Shorts:127,832267,83131,195
– Long to Short Ratio:0.8 to 11.0 to 11.6 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):15.182.041.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:1.6-0.1-16.2

 


LIVE CATTLE Futures:

LIVE CATTLE Futures COT ChartThe 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 StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:51.927.17.0
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:18.653.214.2
– Net Position:123,285-96,439-26,846
– Gross Longs:192,036100,39925,870
– Gross Shorts:68,751196,83852,716
– Long to Short Ratio:2.8 to 10.5 to 10.5 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):100.04.90.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bullish-ExtremeBearish-ExtremeBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:25.3-28.7-8.8

 


LEAN HOGS Futures:

LEAN HOGS Futures COT ChartThe 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 StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:43.232.77.3
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:17.755.79.8
– Net Position:76,542-69,200-7,342
– Gross Longs:129,74198,04121,949
– Gross Shorts:53,199167,24129,291
– Long to Short Ratio:2.4 to 10.6 to 10.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):87.011.734.4
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bullish-ExtremeBearish-ExtremeBearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-11.711.78.8

 


COTTON Futures:

COTTON Futures COT ChartThe 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 StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:24.748.55.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:38.634.75.6
– Net Position:-35,74135,448293
– Gross Longs:63,438124,56314,607
– Gross Shorts:99,17989,11514,314
– Long to Short Ratio:0.6 to 11.4 to 11.0 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):7.091.718.3
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-14.913.51.9

 


COCOA Futures:

COCOA Futures COT ChartThe 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 StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:39.438.69.0
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:9.973.14.0
– Net Position:36,860-43,1016,241
– Gross Longs:49,21648,25011,182
– Gross Shorts:12,35691,3514,941
– Long to Short Ratio:4.0 to 10.5 to 12.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):47.649.865.3
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBearishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-0.30.5-1.6

 


WHEAT Futures:

WHEAT Futures COT ChartThe 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 StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:29.234.57.1
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:46.517.86.6
– Net Position:-82,20979,4852,724
– Gross Longs:138,772164,18233,946
– Gross Shorts:220,98184,69731,222
– Long to Short Ratio:0.6 to 11.9 to 11.1 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):11.984.671.7
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-16.410.541.8

 


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.

COT Stock Market Charts: Speculator Changes led higher by S&P500-Mini

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 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 S&P500-Mini

The COT stock markets speculator bets were slightly higher this week as four out of the seven stock markets we cover had higher positioning while the other three markets had lower speculator contracts.

Leading the gains for the stock markets was the S&P500-Mini (31,661 contracts) with the VIX (4,324 contracts), the Russell-Mini (2,089 contracts) and the Nikkei 225 (626 contracts) also showing positive weeks.

The markets with the declines in speculator bets this week were the Nasdaq-Mini (-8,236 contracts) with the DowJones-Mini (-1,313 contracts) and the MSCI EAFE-Mini (-244 contracts) also registering lower bets on the week.


Stock Market 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 Russell-Mini & VIX

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 Russell-Mini (81 percent) and the VIX (72 percent) lead the stock markets this week. The DowJones-Mini (63 percent) comes in as the next highest in the weekly strength scores.

On the downside, the MSCI EAFE-Mini (43 percent) comes in at the lowest strength level currently.

Strength Statistics:
VIX (72.1 percent) vs VIX previous week (68.2 percent)
S&P500-Mini (60.2 percent) vs S&P500-Mini previous week (55.5 percent)
DowJones-Mini (62.7 percent) vs DowJones-Mini previous week (64.8 percent)
Nasdaq-Mini (55.5 percent) vs Nasdaq-Mini previous week (68.3 percent)
Russell2000-Mini (81.2 percent) vs Russell2000-Mini previous week (79.8 percent)
Nikkei USD (56.1 percent) vs Nikkei USD previous week (50.8 percent)
EAFE-Mini (42.6 percent) vs EAFE-Mini previous week (42.9 percent)


S&P500-Mini tops the 6-Week Strength Trends

COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that the S&P500-Mini (12 percent) leads the past six weeks trends for the stock markets. The Russell-Mini (7 percent) and the VIX (6 percent) are the next highest positive movers in the latest trends data.

The Nasdaq-Mini (-30 percent) leads the downside trend scores currently with the DowJones-Mini (-15 percent) coming in as the next market with lower trend scores.

Strength Trend Statistics:
VIX (5.9 percent) vs VIX previous week (-10.6 percent)
S&P500-Mini (11.6 percent) vs S&P500-Mini previous week (2.5 percent)
DowJones-Mini (-14.7 percent) vs DowJones-Mini previous week (-15.1 percent)
Nasdaq-Mini (-29.7 percent) vs Nasdaq-Mini previous week (-1.1 percent)
Russell2000-Mini (7.2 percent) vs Russell2000-Mini previous week (-0.4 percent)
Nikkei USD (-3.2 percent) vs Nikkei USD previous week (-13.6 percent)
EAFE-Mini (4.8 percent) vs EAFE-Mini previous week (3.4 percent)


Individual Stock Market Charts:

VIX Volatility Futures:

VIX Volatility Futures COT ChartThe VIX Volatility large speculator standing this week totaled a net position of -26,730 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 4,324 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -31,054 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 72.1 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 31.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 72.0 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

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

VIX Volatility Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:20.644.08.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:29.334.99.2
– Net Position:-26,73028,181-1,451
– Gross Longs:63,637135,63626,958
– Gross Shorts:90,367107,45528,409
– Long to Short Ratio:0.7 to 11.3 to 10.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):72.131.972.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:5.9-2.8-12.9

 


S&P500 Mini Futures:

SP500 Mini Futures COT ChartThe S&P500 Mini large speculator standing this week totaled a net position of -30,542 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 31,661 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -62,203 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 60.2 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 28.1 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 83.3 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

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

S&P500 Mini Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:12.571.613.1
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:14.075.87.4
– Net Position:-30,542-85,660116,202
– Gross Longs:256,3581,462,893268,436
– Gross Shorts:286,9001,548,553152,234
– Long to Short Ratio:0.9 to 10.9 to 11.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):60.228.183.3
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:11.6-6.3-12.8

 


Dow Jones Mini Futures:

Dow Jones Mini Futures COT ChartThe Dow Jones Mini large speculator standing this week totaled a net position of 1,446 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly fall of -1,313 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 2,759 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 62.7 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 28.1 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 86.8 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

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

Dow Jones Mini Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:18.061.719.3
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:16.270.212.5
– Net Position:1,446-6,9605,514
– Gross Longs:14,67950,47915,757
– Gross Shorts:13,23357,43910,243
– Long to Short Ratio:1.1 to 10.9 to 11.5 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):62.728.186.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-14.79.714.4

 


Nasdaq Mini Futures:

Nasdaq Mini Futures COT ChartThe Nasdaq Mini large speculator standing this week totaled a net position of 10,534 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -8,236 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 18,770 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 55.5 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 27.7 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 80.3 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

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

Nasdaq Mini Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:24.857.715.8
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:20.667.210.4
– Net Position:10,534-24,05013,516
– Gross Longs:62,849146,45840,041
– Gross Shorts:52,315170,50826,525
– Long to Short Ratio:1.2 to 10.9 to 11.5 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):55.527.780.3
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-29.718.14.3

 


Russell 2000 Mini Futures:

Russell 2000 Mini Futures COT ChartThe Russell 2000 Mini large speculator standing this week totaled a net position of -1,095 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 2,089 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -3,184 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 81.2 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 14.5 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 71.1 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

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

Russell 2000 Mini Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:14.973.37.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:15.276.74.1
– Net Position:-1,095-15,45716,552
– Gross Longs:67,859332,60135,166
– Gross Shorts:68,954348,05818,614
– Long to Short Ratio:1.0 to 11.0 to 11.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):81.214.571.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bullish-ExtremeBearish-ExtremeBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:7.2-0.2-28.9

 


Nikkei Stock Average (USD) Futures:

Nikkei Stock Average (USD) Futures COT ChartThe Nikkei Stock Average (USD) large speculator standing this week totaled a net position of -2,818 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly gain of 626 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -3,444 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 56.1 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 44.8 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 46.8 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

Nikkei Stock Average Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:9.170.520.4
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:36.345.218.6
– Net Position:-2,8182,628190
– Gross Longs:9467,3172,117
– Gross Shorts:3,7644,6891,927
– Long to Short Ratio:0.3 to 11.6 to 11.1 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):56.144.846.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-3.29.6-19.1

 


MSCI EAFE Mini Futures:

MSCI EAFE Mini Futures COT ChartThe MSCI EAFE Mini large speculator standing this week totaled a net position of -27,025 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -244 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -26,781 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 42.6 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 58.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 32.5 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

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

MSCI EAFE Mini Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:8.388.72.4
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:14.583.21.7
– Net Position:-27,02523,9353,090
– Gross Longs:36,119386,37310,665
– Gross Shorts:63,144362,4387,575
– Long to Short Ratio:0.6 to 11.1 to 11.4 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):42.658.232.5
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:4.8-2.7-8.8

 


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.

US Dollar Index Speculator bets rise for 1st time in 7 weeks, AUD bets plunge

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 December 17th and shows a quick view of how large market participants (for-profit speculators and commercial traders) were positioned in the futures markets. All currency positions are in direct relation to the US dollar where, for example, a bet for the euro is a bet that the euro will rise versus the dollar while a bet against the euro will be a bet that the euro will decline versus the dollar.

Weekly Speculator Bets led by Swiss Franc & EuroFX

The COT currency market speculator bets were overall lower this week as five out of the eleven currency markets we cover had higher positioning while the other six markets had lower speculator contracts.

Leading the gains for the currency markets was the Swiss Franc (13,192 contracts) with the EuroFX (9,678 contracts), the US Dollar Index (8,865 contracts), the Mexican Peso (6,686 contracts) and Bitcoin (891 contracts) also having positive weeks.

The currencies seeing declines in speculator bets on the week were the Australian Dollar (-70,016 contracts), the Japanese Yen (-19,791 contracts), the New Zealand Dollar (-14,300 contracts), the British Pound (-5,478 contracts), the Brazilian Real (-4,544 contracts) and with the Canadian Dollar (-501 contracts) also recording lower bets on the week.

US Dollar Index Speculator bets rise for 1st time in 7 weeks, AUD bets plunge

Highlighting the COT currency’s data this week is the increase in the speculator’s positioning in the US Dollar Index. The large speculative US Dollar Index positions jumped this week for the first time in the past seven weeks and by the highest weekly amount (+8,865 contracts) since June.

The Dollar Index bets had fallen for seven straight weeks and spec positions were in bearish territory for the past five weeks before this week’s gain. Now, the Dollar Index is back in a bullish standing and at the highest level since September. Speculators had been cutting their bullish bets despite the strong buying action in the markets for the Dollar.

The Dollar Index futures (DX) rose again this week for a third consecutive week and have now been higher in ten out of the past twelve weeks. This week’s high level over 108 is the highest point touched since 2022 and the DX managed to close over the 107.00 level for the first time since November.

Australian dollar bets plunge

The Australian dollar speculator positions fell by the most on record this week with a huge drop by -70,016 contracts. This surpasses the previous most bearish weekly plunge of -56,065 contracts that took place in 2007 around the time of the Great Financial Crisis.

The Australian Dollar exchange versus the US Dollar has been falling sharply with declines in eleven out of the past twelve weeks as well. The AUD exchange level closed at 0.6267 on Friday, marking the lowest close since the fourth quarter of 2022.

The strong Dollar has been laying waste to most of the other major currencies as the Euro, Canadian dollar, Australian dollar, New Zealand dollar, Mexican peso and the Brazilian real are all trading at or near multi-year lows.


Currencies 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 Japanese Yen & Swiss Franc

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 Japanese Yen (76 percent) and the Swiss Franc (57 percent) lead the currency markets this week. Bitcoin (55 percent) comes in as the next highest in the weekly strength scores.

On the downside, the New Zealand Dollar (0 percent), the EuroFX (4 percent), the Canadian Dollar (6 percent) and the US Dollar Index (18 percent) come in at the lowest strength levels currently and are in Extreme-Bearish territory (below 20 percent).

3-Year Strength Statistics:
US Dollar Index (18.4 percent) vs US Dollar Index previous week (0.0 percent)
EuroFX (3.7 percent) vs EuroFX previous week (0.0 percent)
British Pound Sterling (45.8 percent) vs British Pound Sterling previous week (48.3 percent)
Japanese Yen (76.0 percent) vs Japanese Yen previous week (83.9 percent)
Swiss Franc (56.7 percent) vs Swiss Franc previous week (30.0 percent)
Canadian Dollar (6.4 percent) vs Canadian Dollar previous week (6.6 percent)
Australian Dollar (32.6 percent) vs Australian Dollar previous week (82.3 percent)
New Zealand Dollar (0.0 percent) vs New Zealand Dollar previous week (19.5 percent)
Mexican Peso (36.2 percent) vs Mexican Peso previous week (32.8 percent)
Brazilian Real (32.2 percent) vs Brazilian Real previous week (36.5 percent)
Bitcoin (55.0 percent) vs Bitcoin previous week (35.6 percent)


Bitcoin & Japanese Yen top the 6-Week Strength Trends

COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that Bitcoin (36 percent) and the Japanese Yen (20 percent) lead the past six weeks trends for the currencies. The Swiss Franc (17 percent) and the US Dollar Index (11 percent) are the next highest positive movers in the 3-Year trends data.

The Australian Dollar (-66 percent) leads the downside trend scores currently with the New Zealand Dollar (-47 percent), EuroFX (-17 percent) and the British Pound (-11 percent) following next with lower trend scores.

3-Year Strength Trends:
US Dollar Index (11.5 percent) vs US Dollar Index previous week (-10.2 percent)
EuroFX (-16.8 percent) vs EuroFX previous week (-9.6 percent)
British Pound Sterling (-10.5 percent) vs British Pound Sterling previous week (-17.6 percent)
Japanese Yen (20.0 percent) vs Japanese Yen previous week (20.2 percent)
Swiss Franc (16.6 percent) vs Swiss Franc previous week (-2.0 percent)
Canadian Dollar (-3.1 percent) vs Canadian Dollar previous week (-6.3 percent)
Australian Dollar (-65.6 percent) vs Australian Dollar previous week (-13.5 percent)
New Zealand Dollar (-46.8 percent) vs New Zealand Dollar previous week (-35.5 percent)
Mexican Peso (-8.4 percent) vs Mexican Peso previous week (-13.8 percent)
Brazilian Real (-8.0 percent) vs Brazilian Real previous week (-11.5 percent)
Bitcoin (35.5 percent) vs Bitcoin previous week (25.1 percent)


Individual COT Forex Markets:

US Dollar Index Futures:

US Dollar Index Forex Futures COT ChartThe US Dollar Index large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of 5,641 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly rise of 8,865 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -3,224 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 18.4 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 79.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 41.3 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend

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

US DOLLAR INDEX StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:60.925.19.1
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:47.242.95.0
– Net Position:5,641-7,3491,708
– Gross Longs:25,14510,3533,753
– Gross Shorts:19,50417,7022,045
– Long to Short Ratio:1.3 to 10.6 to 11.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):18.479.641.3
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullishBearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:11.5-14.418.4

 


Euro Currency Futures:

Euro Currency Futures COT ChartThe Euro Currency large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -65,895 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 9,678 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -75,573 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 3.7 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 97.7 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 10.6 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

EURO Currency StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:26.158.412.3
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:37.450.19.3
– Net Position:-65,89548,08917,806
– Gross Longs:152,671340,83772,006
– Gross Shorts:218,566292,74854,200
– Long to Short Ratio:0.7 to 11.2 to 11.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):3.797.710.6
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-16.816.2-7.4

 


British Pound Sterling Futures:

British Pound Sterling Futures COT ChartThe British Pound Sterling large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of 21,647 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -5,478 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 27,125 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 45.8 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 54.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 50.9 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

BRITISH POUND StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:47.238.313.3
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:35.647.016.2
– Net Position:21,647-16,258-5,389
– Gross Longs:88,26571,72824,964
– Gross Shorts:66,61887,98630,353
– Long to Short Ratio:1.3 to 10.8 to 10.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):45.854.950.9
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-10.515.6-33.4

 


Japanese Yen Futures:

Japanese Yen Forex Futures COT ChartThe Japanese Yen large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of 5,961 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -19,791 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 25,752 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 76.0 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 27.4 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 56.8 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

JAPANESE YEN StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:48.031.419.1
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:44.733.120.7
– Net Position:5,961-3,101-2,860
– Gross Longs:87,20857,10734,688
– Gross Shorts:81,24760,20837,548
– Long to Short Ratio:1.1 to 10.9 to 10.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):76.027.456.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:20.0-18.50.6

 


Swiss Franc Futures:

Swiss Franc Forex Futures COT ChartThe Swiss Franc large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -21,800 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly advance of 13,192 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -34,992 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 56.7 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 65.3 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.

SWISS FRANC StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:19.771.78.0
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:45.224.629.7
– Net Position:-21,80040,379-18,579
– Gross Longs:16,87261,4076,853
– Gross Shorts:38,67221,02825,432
– Long to Short Ratio:0.4 to 12.9 to 10.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):56.765.30.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBullishBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:16.61.4-38.3

 


Canadian Dollar Futures:

Canadian Dollar Forex Futures COT ChartThe Canadian Dollar large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -182,055 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -501 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -181,554 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 96.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 2.6 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

CANADIAN DOLLAR StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:3.988.85.9
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:41.448.58.7
– Net Position:-182,055195,457-13,402
– Gross Longs:19,170430,97228,710
– Gross Shorts:201,225235,51542,112
– Long to Short Ratio:0.1 to 11.8 to 10.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):6.496.62.6
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-3.16.0-20.4

 


Australian Dollar Futures:

Australian Dollar Forex Futures COT ChartThe Australian Dollar large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -61,531 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -70,016 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 8,485 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 32.6 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 72.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 23.9 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:19.164.412.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:54.723.318.3
– Net Position:-61,53171,099-9,568
– Gross Longs:32,929111,27621,997
– Gross Shorts:94,46040,17731,565
– Long to Short Ratio:0.3 to 12.8 to 10.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):32.672.323.9
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-65.661.3-27.3

 


New Zealand Dollar Futures:

New Zealand Dollar Forex Futures COT ChartThe New Zealand Dollar large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -42,507 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -14,300 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -28,207 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 4.9 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:11.684.13.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:64.026.98.4
– Net Position:-42,50746,323-3,816
– Gross Longs:9,37068,1082,967
– Gross Shorts:51,87721,7856,783
– Long to Short Ratio:0.2 to 13.1 to 10.4 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):0.0100.04.9
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-46.847.8-30.5

 


Mexican Peso Futures:

Mexican Peso Futures COT ChartThe Mexican Peso large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of 14,614 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly rise of 6,686 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 7,928 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 36.2 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 67.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 10.1 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

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

MEXICAN PESO StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:43.850.32.9
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:32.260.14.7
– Net Position:14,614-12,332-2,282
– Gross Longs:55,52963,9013,680
– Gross Shorts:40,91576,2335,962
– Long to Short Ratio:1.4 to 10.8 to 10.6 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):36.267.910.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-8.47.510.1

 


Brazilian Real Futures:

Brazil Real Futures COT ChartThe Brazilian Real large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -20,937 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -4,544 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -16,393 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 32.2 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 70.1 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 13.1 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

BRAZIL REAL StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:41.055.62.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:67.826.94.5
– Net Position:-20,93722,320-1,383
– Gross Longs:31,93143,3122,103
– Gross Shorts:52,86820,9923,486
– Long to Short Ratio:0.6 to 12.1 to 10.6 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):32.270.113.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-8.08.4-3.0

 


Bitcoin Futures:

Bitcoin Crypto Futures COT ChartThe Bitcoin large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of 171 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly boost of 891 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -720 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 55.0 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 51.4 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 33.4 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

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

BITCOIN StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:77.84.03.9
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:77.45.23.1
– Net Position:171-483312
– Gross Longs:33,0731,7201,639
– Gross Shorts:32,9022,2031,327
– Long to Short Ratio:1.0 to 10.8 to 11.2 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):55.051.433.4
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBullishBearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:35.5-35.2-16.2

 


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.

Speculator Extremes: New Zealand Dollar, Euro & CAD lead Bearish Positions

By InvestMacro 

The latest update for the weekly Commitment of Traders (COT) report was released by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on Friday for data ending on December 17th.

This weekly Extreme Positions report highlights the Most Bullish and Most Bearish Positions for the speculator category. Extreme positioning in these markets can foreshadow strong moves in the underlying market.

To signify an extreme position, we use the Strength Index (also known as the COT Index) of each instrument, a common method of measuring COT data. The Strength Index is simply a comparison of current trader positions against the range of positions over the previous 3 years. We use over 80 percent as extremely bullish and under 20 percent as extremely bearish. (Compare Strength Index scores across all markets in the data table or cot leaders table)


 


Here Are This Week’s Most Bullish Speculator Positions:

Lean Hogs


The Lean Hogs speculator position comes in as the most bullish extreme standing this week. The Lean Hogs speculator level is currently at a 100.0 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the percent strength score totaled 17.0 this week. The overall net speculator position was a total of 93,410 net contracts this week with a rise of 1,888 contract in the weekly speculator bets.


Speculators or Non-Commercials Notes:

Speculators, classified as non-commercial traders by the CFTC, are made up of large commodity funds, hedge funds and other significant for-profit participants. The Specs are generally regarded as trend-followers in their behavior towards price action – net speculator bets and prices tend to go in the same directions. These traders often look to buy when prices are rising and sell when prices are falling. To illustrate this point, many times speculator contracts can be found at their most extremes (bullish or bearish) when prices are also close to their highest or lowest levels.

These extreme levels can be dangerous for the large speculators as the trade is most crowded, there is less trading ammunition still sitting on the sidelines to push the trend further and prices have moved a significant distance. When the trend becomes exhausted, some speculators take profits while others look to also exit positions when prices fail to continue in the same direction. This process usually plays out over many months to years and can ultimately create a reverse effect where prices start to fall and speculators start a process of selling when prices are falling.


Live Cattle


The Live Cattle speculator position comes next in the extreme standings this week. The Live Cattle speculator level is now at a 98.4 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the percent strength score was 34.5 this week. The speculator position registered 110,778 net contracts this week with a weekly gain by 8,077 contracts in speculator bets.


Nasdaq


The Nasdaq speculator position comes in third this week in the extreme standings. The Nasdaq speculator level resides at a 95.1 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the speculator strength score came in at 31.0 this week. The overall speculator position was 36,082 net contracts this week with an increase by 509 contracts in the weekly speculator bets.


Ultra U.S. Treasury Bonds


The Ultra U.S. Treasury Bonds speculator position comes up number four in the extreme standings this week. The Ultra U.S. Treasury Bonds speculator level is at a 90.6 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the speculator strength score totaled a change of 17.2 this week. The overall speculator position was -219,304 net contracts this week with a change of -2,932 contracts in the speculator bets.


Coffee


The Coffee speculator position rounds out the top five in this week’s bullish extreme standings. The Coffee speculator level sits at a 86.5 percent score of its 3-year range. The six-week trend for the speculator strength score was -0.8 this week.

The speculator position was 62,147 net contracts this week with an edge higher by 73 contracts in the weekly speculator bets.



This Week’s Most Bearish Speculator Positions:

New Zealand Dollar


The New Zealand Dollar speculator position comes in as the most bearish extreme standing this week. The New Zealand Dollar speculator level is at a 0.0 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the speculator strength score was -46.8 this week. The overall speculator position was -42,507 net contracts this week with a drop by -14,300 contracts in the speculator bets.


Euro


The Euro speculator position comes in next for the most bearish extreme standing on the week. The Euro speculator level is at a 3.7 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the speculator strength score was -16.8 this week. The speculator position was -65,895 net contracts this week with a rise of 9,678 contracts in the weekly speculator bets.


Canadian Dollar


The Canadian Dollar speculator position comes in as third most bearish extreme standing of the week. The Canadian Dollar speculator level resides at a 6.4 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the speculator strength score was -3.1 this week. The overall speculator position was -182,055 net contracts this week with a dip of -501 contracts in the speculator bets.


Soybean Meal


The Soybean Meal speculator position comes in as this week’s fourth most bearish extreme standing. The Soybean Meal speculator level is at a 9.0 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the speculator strength score was -24.3 this week. The speculator position was -44,844 net contracts this week with a decline by -15,616 contracts in the weekly speculator bets.


5-Year Bond


Finally, the 5-Year Bond speculator position comes in as the fifth most bearish extreme standing for this week. The 5-Year Bond speculator level is at a 11.7 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the speculator strength score was 0.3 this week. The speculator position was -1,762,317 net contracts this week with a rise of 28,113 contracts in the weekly speculator bets.


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.

COT Bonds Charts: Speculator Bets led by SOFR 3-Months & 10-Year Bonds

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 December 17th 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 SOFR 3-Months & 10-Year Bonds

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

Leading the gains for the bond markets was the SOFR 3-Months (218,551 contracts) with the 10-Year Bonds (142,799 contracts), the Fed Funds (52,914 contracts), the SOFR 1-Month (29,668 contracts) and the 5-Year Bonds (28,113 contracts) also showing positive weeks.

The bond markets with declines in speculator bets for the week were the US Treasury Bonds (-6,810 contracts), the Ultra 10-Year Bonds (-6,403 contracts), the 2-Year Bonds (-4,349 contracts) and with the Ultra Treasury Bonds (-2,932 contracts) also seeing 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 (91 percent) and the US Treasury Bonds (67 percent) lead the bond markets this week. The SOFR 1-Month (59 percent) comes in as the next highest in the weekly strength scores.

On the downside, the 2-Year Bonds (14 percent) and 5-Year Bonds (12 percent) come in at the lowest strength levels currently and are in Extreme-Bearish territory (below 20 percent).

Strength Statistics:
Fed Funds (48.0 percent) vs Fed Funds previous week (38.3 percent)
2-Year Bond (14.4 percent) vs 2-Year Bond previous week (14.7 percent)
5-Year Bond (11.7 percent) vs 5-Year Bond previous week (10.3 percent)
10-Year Bond (38.8 percent) vs 10-Year Bond previous week (25.3 percent)
Ultra 10-Year Bond (42.2 percent) vs Ultra 10-Year Bond previous week (43.9 percent)
US Treasury Bond (67.4 percent) vs US Treasury Bond previous week (69.7 percent)
Ultra US Treasury Bond (90.6 percent) vs Ultra US Treasury Bond previous week (91.7 percent)
SOFR 1-Month (58.7 percent) vs SOFR 1-Month previous week (51.4 percent)
SOFR 3-Months (54.6 percent) vs SOFR 3-Months previous week (43.4 percent)


SOFR 1-Month & Ultra 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 SOFR 1-Month (27 percent) and the Ultra Treasury Bonds (17 percent) lead the past six weeks trends for bonds. The 2-Year Bonds (14 percent) are the next highest positive movers in the latest trends data.

The Fed Funds (-11.0 percent) leads the downside trend scores currently with the US Treasury Bonds (-3 percent) following next with lower trend scores.

Strength Trend Statistics:
Fed Funds (-11.0 percent) vs Fed Funds previous week (-44.7 percent)
2-Year Bond (14.4 percent) vs 2-Year Bond previous week (14.3 percent)
5-Year Bond (0.3 percent) vs 5-Year Bond previous week (-5.9 percent)
10-Year Bond (8.1 percent) vs 10-Year Bond previous week (2.4 percent)
Ultra 10-Year Bond (7.1 percent) vs Ultra 10-Year Bond previous week (-0.8 percent)
US Treasury Bond (-3.0 percent) vs US Treasury Bond previous week (5.3 percent)
Ultra US Treasury Bond (17.2 percent) vs Ultra US Treasury Bond previous week (35.8 percent)
SOFR 1-Month (26.9 percent) vs SOFR 1-Month previous week (51.4 percent)
SOFR 3-Months (-0.7 percent) vs SOFR 3-Months previous week (-14.2 percent)


30-Day Federal Funds Futures:

Federal Funds 30-Day Bonds Futures COT ChartThe 30-Day Federal Funds large speculator standing this week equaled a net position of -35,557 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly gain of 52,914 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -88,471 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 48.0 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 49.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 78.3 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Downtrend

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

30-Day Federal Funds StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:14.968.62.0
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:16.966.42.2
– Net Position:-35,55739,263-3,706
– Gross Longs:266,5771,226,90735,971
– Gross Shorts:302,1341,187,64439,677
– Long to Short Ratio:0.9 to 11.0 to 10.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):48.049.278.3
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBearishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-11.010.34.9

 


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 equaled a net position of -108,925 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly gain of 218,551 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -327,476 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 54.6 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 45.7 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 83.2 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

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

SOFR 3-Months StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:13.959.30.5
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:14.858.30.6
– Net Position:-108,925117,411-8,486
– Gross Longs:1,543,4086,609,84956,269
– Gross Shorts:1,652,3336,492,43864,755
– Long to Short Ratio:0.9 to 11.0 to 10.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):54.645.783.2
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-0.71.0-3.1

 


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 equaled a net position of -39,662 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 29,668 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -69,330 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 58.7 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 41.4 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 53.1 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend

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

SOFR 1-Month StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:25.562.20.0
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:28.159.60.0
– Net Position:-39,66240,010-348
– Gross Longs:392,112954,943141
– Gross Shorts:431,774914,933489
– Long to Short Ratio:0.9 to 11.0 to 10.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):58.741.453.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:26.9-26.90.7

 


2-Year Treasury Note Futures:

2-Year Treasury Bonds Futures COT ChartThe 2-Year Treasury Note large speculator standing this week equaled a net position of -1,259,273 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -4,349 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -1,254,924 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 14.4 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 84.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 77.0 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

2-Year Treasury Note StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:11.678.25.9
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:41.451.42.8
– Net Position:-1,259,2731,129,720129,553
– Gross Longs:487,3393,297,104248,447
– Gross Shorts:1,746,6122,167,384118,894
– Long to Short Ratio:0.3 to 11.5 to 12.1 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):14.484.977.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:14.4-15.0-7.2

 


5-Year Treasury Note Futures:

5-Year Treasury Bonds Futures COT ChartThe 5-Year Treasury Note large speculator standing this week equaled a net position of -1,762,317 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly advance of 28,113 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -1,790,430 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 11.7 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 87.8 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 70.5 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

5-Year Treasury Note StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:7.284.86.5
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:36.257.25.0
– Net Position:-1,762,3171,670,04492,273
– Gross Longs:435,4195,139,765395,530
– Gross Shorts:2,197,7363,469,721303,257
– Long to Short Ratio:0.2 to 11.5 to 11.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):11.787.870.5
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:0.33.5-11.2

 


10-Year Treasury Note Futures:

10-Year Treasury Notes Bonds Futures COT ChartThe 10-Year Treasury Note large speculator standing this week equaled a net position of -732,917 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly rise of 142,799 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -875,716 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 38.8 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 58.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 82.6 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:11.077.29.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:27.462.67.8
– Net Position:-732,917651,75981,158
– Gross Longs:492,5293,448,078431,228
– Gross Shorts:1,225,4462,796,319350,070
– Long to Short Ratio:0.4 to 11.2 to 11.2 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):38.858.682.6
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:8.1-6.8-6.6

 


Ultra 10-Year Notes Futures:

Ultra 10-Year Treasury Notes Bonds Futures COT ChartThe Ultra 10-Year Notes large speculator standing this week equaled a net position of -112,485 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -6,403 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -106,082 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 42.2 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 34.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 93.0 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

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

Ultra 10-Year Notes StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:15.372.910.9
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:20.566.212.4
– Net Position:-112,485145,015-32,530
– Gross Longs:332,6001,582,159237,065
– Gross Shorts:445,0851,437,144269,595
– Long to Short Ratio:0.7 to 11.1 to 10.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):42.234.693.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBearishBullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:7.1-19.019.1

 


US Treasury Bonds Futures:

US Year Treasury Notes Long Bonds Futures COT ChartThe US Treasury Bonds large speculator standing this week equaled a net position of -46,303 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -6,810 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -39,493 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 67.4 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 17.4 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 74.1 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:21.965.711.5
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:24.467.67.1
– Net Position:-46,303-34,19780,500
– Gross Longs:407,7711,224,408213,331
– Gross Shorts:454,0741,258,605132,831
– Long to Short Ratio:0.9 to 11.0 to 11.6 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):67.417.474.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearish-ExtremeBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-3.00.84.2

 


Ultra US Treasury Bonds Futures:

Ultra US Year Treasury Notes Long Bonds Futures COT ChartThe Ultra US Treasury Bonds large speculator standing this week equaled a net position of -219,304 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -2,932 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -216,372 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 90.6 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 4.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 35.1 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:8.179.910.3
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:20.368.89.1
– Net Position:-219,304198,64420,660
– Gross Longs:144,9521,432,440184,033
– Gross Shorts:364,2561,233,796163,373
– Long to Short Ratio:0.4 to 11.2 to 11.1 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):90.64.635.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bullish-ExtremeBearish-ExtremeBearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:17.2-28.928.0

 


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.

COT Metals Charts: Speculator Bets led lower by Gold, Copper & Palladium

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 December 17th 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 lower by Gold, Copper & Palladium

The COT metals markets speculator bets were decidedly lower this week as all of the six metals markets we cover had lower speculator contracts.

The markets with declines in speculator bets for the week were Gold (-13,545 contracts), Copper (-5,019 contracts), Palladium (-1,282 contracts), Platinum (-1,085 contracts), Silver (-901 contracts) and with Steel (-778 contracts) also recording lower bets on the week.


Metals 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 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 (83 percent) and Gold (80 percent) lead the metals markets this week. Silver (67 percent) comes in as the next highest in the weekly strength scores.

On the downside, Copper (39 percent) comes in at the lowest strength level currently while the next lowest strength scores were Platinum (49 percent) and Palladium (48 percent).

Strength Statistics:
Gold (79.7 percent) vs Gold previous week (84.9 percent)
Silver (67.0 percent) vs Silver previous week (68.2 percent)
Copper (38.8 percent) vs Copper previous week (43.4 percent)
Platinum (48.5 percent) vs Platinum previous week (51.0 percent)
Palladium (48.4 percent) vs Palladium previous week (57.8 percent)
Steel (82.7 percent) vs Palladium previous week (85.7 percent)


Gold tops the 6-Week Strength Trends

COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that Gold (3 percent) leads the past six weeks trends for metals and is the only positive mover in the latest trends data.

Platinum (-36 percent) leads the downside trend scores currently with Palladium (-27 percent) as the next market with lower trend scores.

Move Statistics:
Gold (2.5 percent) vs Gold previous week (-1.2 percent)
Silver (-16.5 percent) vs Silver previous week (-24.3 percent)
Copper (-16.5 percent) vs Copper previous week (-11.9 percent)
Platinum (-36.2 percent) vs Platinum previous week (-49.0 percent)
Palladium (-26.7 percent) vs Palladium previous week (-26.2 percent)
Steel (-12.0 percent) vs Steel previous week (-10.0 percent)


Individual Markets:

Gold Comex Futures:

Gold Futures COT ChartThe Gold Comex Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 262,041 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -13,545 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 275,586 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 79.7 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 19.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 54.6 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

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

Gold Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:64.913.110.4
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:8.874.25.4
– Net Position:262,041-285,23323,192
– Gross Longs:302,97861,01248,388
– Gross Shorts:40,937346,24525,196
– Long to Short Ratio:7.4 to 10.2 to 11.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):79.719.654.6
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearish-ExtremeBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:2.5-0.8-16.4

 


Silver Comex Futures:

Silver Futures COT ChartThe Silver Comex Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 40,264 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -901 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 41,165 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 67.0 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 30.8 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 54.1 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

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

Silver Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:46.423.920.0
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:19.063.18.3
– Net Position:40,264-57,51017,246
– Gross Longs:68,18335,13529,396
– Gross Shorts:27,91992,64512,150
– Long to Short Ratio:2.4 to 10.4 to 12.4 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):67.030.854.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-16.518.5-17.7

 


Copper Grade #1 Futures:

Copper Futures COT ChartThe Copper Grade #1 Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 5,940 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -5,019 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 10,959 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 38.8 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 60.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 52.9 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

Copper Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:39.335.88.4
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:36.441.55.6
– Net Position:5,940-11,7505,810
– Gross Longs:81,54074,27517,360
– Gross Shorts:75,60086,02511,550
– Long to Short Ratio:1.1 to 10.9 to 11.5 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):38.860.352.9
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-16.519.4-28.6

 


Platinum Futures:

Platinum Futures COT ChartThe Platinum Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 13,744 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -1,085 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 14,829 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 48.5 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 45.1 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 81.9 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

Platinum Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:57.419.412.1
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:43.441.14.3
– Net Position:13,744-21,3417,597
– Gross Longs:56,23318,95911,841
– Gross Shorts:42,48940,3004,244
– Long to Short Ratio:1.3 to 10.5 to 12.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):48.545.181.9
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBearishBullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-36.232.413.5

 


Palladium Futures:

Palladium Futures COT ChartThe Palladium Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -7,311 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -1,282 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -6,029 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 48.4 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 49.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 79.5 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

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

Palladium Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:33.548.614.0
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:76.910.88.3
– Net Position:-7,3116,358953
– Gross Longs:5,6338,1822,356
– Gross Shorts:12,9441,8241,403
– Long to Short Ratio:0.4 to 14.5 to 11.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):48.449.379.5
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBearishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-26.726.9-5.9

 


Steel Futures Futures:

Steel Futures COT ChartThe Steel Futures large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -3,558 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lowering of -778 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -2,780 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 82.7 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 18.1 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 33.3 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

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

Steel Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:23.767.70.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:35.356.20.7
– Net Position:-3,5583,5508
– Gross Longs:7,33820,911226
– Gross Shorts:10,89617,361218
– Long to Short Ratio:0.7 to 11.2 to 11.0 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):82.718.133.3
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bullish-ExtremeBearish-ExtremeBearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-12.012.4-13.1

 


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.

COT Soft Commodities Charts: Speculator Bets led by Live Cattle, Lean Hogs & Coffee

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 December 17th 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 Live Cattle & Lean Hogs

The COT soft commodities markets speculator bets were overall lower this week as three out of the eleven softs markets we cover had higher positioning while the other eight markets had lower speculator contracts.

Leading the gains for the softs markets was Live Cattle (8,077 contracts) with Lean Hogs (1,888 contracts) and Coffee (73 contracts) also showing positive weeks.

The markets with the declines in speculator bets this week were Sugar (-29,144 contracts), Soybeans (-23,113 contracts), Wheat (-20,050 contracts), Soybean Meal (-15,616 contracts), Soybean Oil (-9,513 contracts), Cotton (-7,075 contracts), Corn (-2,575 contracts) and with Cocoa (-1,696 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 Lean Hogs & Live Cattle

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 Lean Hogs (100 percent) and Live Cattle (98 percent) lead the softs markets this week. Coffee (86 percent), Corn (62 percent) and Soybean Oil (60 percent) come in as the next highest in the weekly strength scores.

On the downside, Soybean Meal (9 percent), Cotton (13 percent) and Wheat (14 percent) come in at the lowest strength levels currently and are in Extreme-Bearish territory (below 20 percent).

Strength Statistics:
Corn (62.1 percent) vs Corn previous week (62.4 percent)
Sugar (25.5 percent) vs Sugar previous week (35.7 percent)
Coffee (86.5 percent) vs Coffee previous week (86.4 percent)
Soybeans (20.7 percent) vs Soybeans previous week (26.2 percent)
Soybean Oil (59.7 percent) vs Soybean Oil previous week (64.9 percent)
Soybean Meal (9.0 percent) vs Soybean Meal previous week (15.4 percent)
Live Cattle (98.4 percent) vs Live Cattle previous week (89.7 percent)
Lean Hogs (100.0 percent) vs Lean Hogs previous week (98.5 percent)
Cotton (13.1 percent) vs Cotton previous week (17.9 percent)
Cocoa (45.9 percent) vs Cocoa previous week (47.7 percent)
Wheat (14.2 percent) vs Wheat previous week (30.1 percent)


Live Cattle & Lean Hogs top the 6-Week Strength Trends

COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that Live Cattle (34 percent) and Lean Hogs (17 percent) lead the past six weeks trends for soft commodities. Corn (15 percent) comes in as the next highest positive mover in the latest trends data.

Wheat (-45 percent) leads the downside trend scores currently with Soybean Oil (-24 percent), Soybean Meal (-24 percent) and Cotton (-10 percent) following next with lower trend scores.

Strength Trend Statistics:
Corn (15.2 percent) vs Corn previous week (18.0 percent)
Sugar (-3.5 percent) vs Sugar previous week (5.1 percent)
Coffee (-0.8 percent) vs Coffee previous week (-3.1 percent)
Soybeans (-4.8 percent) vs Soybeans previous week (1.4 percent)
Soybean Oil (-23.6 percent) vs Soybean Oil previous week (-11.8 percent)
Soybean Meal (-24.3 percent) vs Soybean Meal previous week (-23.1 percent)
Live Cattle (34.5 percent) vs Live Cattle previous week (22.6 percent)
Lean Hogs (17.0 percent) vs Lean Hogs previous week (23.5 percent)
Cotton (-9.5 percent) vs Cotton previous week (-5.2 percent)
Cocoa (-1.4 percent) vs Cocoa previous week (-0.4 percent)
Wheat (-45.1 percent) vs Wheat previous week (-28.9 percent)


Individual Soft Commodities Markets:

CORN Futures:

CORN Futures COT ChartThe CORN large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 221,848 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -2,575 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 224,423 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 62.1 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 39.8 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 39.7 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

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

CORN Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:28.146.17.5
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:14.456.610.7
– Net Position:221,848-170,678-51,170
– Gross Longs:454,635745,237121,259
– Gross Shorts:232,787915,915172,429
– Long to Short Ratio:2.0 to 10.8 to 10.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):62.139.839.7
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:15.2-14.7-11.6

 


SUGAR Futures:

SUGAR Futures COT ChartThe SUGAR large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 68,183 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -29,144 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 97,327 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 25.5 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 73.5 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 35.0 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

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

SUGAR Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:23.453.47.3
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:16.261.96.0
– Net Position:68,183-79,99811,815
– Gross Longs:221,468505,12668,565
– Gross Shorts:153,285585,12456,750
– Long to Short Ratio:1.4 to 10.9 to 11.2 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):25.573.535.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-3.59.6-30.6

 


COFFEE Futures:

COFFEE Futures COT ChartThe COFFEE large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 62,147 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly edge higher of 73 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 62,074 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 86.5 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 12.7 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 71.5 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend

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

COFFEE Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:37.234.64.8
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:6.067.53.0
– Net Position:62,147-65,7003,553
– Gross Longs:74,22769,1459,539
– Gross Shorts:12,080134,8455,986
– Long to Short Ratio:6.1 to 10.5 to 11.6 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):86.512.771.5
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bullish-ExtremeBearish-ExtremeBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-0.8-0.317.0

 


SOYBEANS Futures:

SOYBEANS Futures COT ChartThe SOYBEANS large speculator standing this week reached a net position of -109,329 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly fall of -23,113 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -86,216 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 20.7 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 79.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 71.5 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

SOYBEANS Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:17.056.65.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:29.042.97.4
– Net Position:-109,329125,032-15,703
– Gross Longs:156,034518,26352,313
– Gross Shorts:265,363393,23168,016
– Long to Short Ratio:0.6 to 11.3 to 10.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):20.779.671.5
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-4.84.28.7

 


SOYBEAN OIL Futures:

SOYBEAN OIL Futures COT ChartThe SOYBEAN OIL large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 33,350 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly fall of -9,513 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 42,863 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 59.7 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 45.8 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 18.8 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

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

SOYBEAN OIL Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:25.152.85.5
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:19.258.95.3
– Net Position:33,350-34,5661,216
– Gross Longs:142,261299,58931,466
– Gross Shorts:108,911334,15530,250
– Long to Short Ratio:1.3 to 10.9 to 11.0 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):59.745.818.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-23.625.5-32.3

 


SOYBEAN MEAL Futures:

SOYBEAN MEAL Futures COT ChartThe SOYBEAN MEAL large speculator standing this week reached a net position of -44,844 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -15,616 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -29,228 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 9.0 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 86.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 60.8 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

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

SOYBEAN MEAL Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:20.445.58.9
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:27.542.25.3
– Net Position:-44,84421,47823,366
– Gross Longs:130,356290,50657,067
– Gross Shorts:175,200269,02833,701
– Long to Short Ratio:0.7 to 11.1 to 11.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):9.086.260.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-24.323.8-4.1

 


LIVE CATTLE Futures:

LIVE CATTLE Futures COT ChartThe LIVE CATTLE large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 110,778 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 8,077 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 102,701 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 98.4 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 15.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 7.3 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend

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

LIVE CATTLE Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:50.128.67.0
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:18.553.713.5
– Net Position:110,778-87,943-22,835
– Gross Longs:175,651100,38924,537
– Gross Shorts:64,873188,33247,372
– Long to Short Ratio:2.7 to 10.5 to 10.5 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):98.415.27.3
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bullish-ExtremeBearish-ExtremeBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:34.5-39.62.8

 


LEAN HOGS Futures:

LEAN HOGS Futures COT ChartThe LEAN HOGS large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 93,410 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 1,888 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 91,522 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 2.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 14.7 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Downtrend

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

LEAN HOGS Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:46.330.66.2
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:18.254.810.0
– Net Position:93,410-80,545-12,865
– Gross Longs:154,060101,70420,534
– Gross Shorts:60,650182,24933,399
– Long to Short Ratio:2.5 to 10.6 to 10.6 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):100.02.014.7
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bullish-ExtremeBearish-ExtremeBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:17.0-14.6-24.7

 


COTTON Futures:

COTTON Futures COT ChartThe COTTON large speculator standing this week reached a net position of -26,603 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lowering of -7,075 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -19,528 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 13.1 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 86.8 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 10.8 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

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

COTTON Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:24.947.55.4
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:36.036.05.8
– Net Position:-26,60327,546-943
– Gross Longs:59,565113,85412,851
– Gross Shorts:86,16886,30813,794
– Long to Short Ratio:0.7 to 11.3 to 10.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):13.186.810.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-9.59.5-7.8

 


COCOA Futures:

COCOA Futures COT ChartThe COCOA large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 35,281 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -1,696 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 36,977 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 45.9 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 50.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 70.0 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend

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

COCOA Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:39.938.39.5
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:12.371.24.2
– Net Position:35,281-42,0676,786
– Gross Longs:51,06449,03312,193
– Gross Shorts:15,78391,1005,407
– Long to Short Ratio:3.2 to 10.5 to 12.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):45.950.970.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-1.41.7-2.2

 


WHEAT Futures:

WHEAT Futures COT ChartThe WHEAT large speculator standing this week reached a net position of -79,340 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lowering of -20,050 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -59,290 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 14.2 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 85.8 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 49.0 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

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

WHEAT Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:28.639.27.2
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:46.420.97.6
– Net Position:-79,34080,945-1,605
– Gross Longs:126,968173,93432,189
– Gross Shorts:206,30892,98933,794
– Long to Short Ratio:0.6 to 11.9 to 11.0 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):14.285.849.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-45.140.832.3

 


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.

COT Stock Market Charts: Speculator Bets led by S&P500 & Russell-2000

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 December 17th 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 S&P500 & Russell-2000

The COT stock markets speculator bets were slightly lower this week as three out of the seven stock markets we cover had higher positioning while the other four markets had lower speculator contracts.

Leading the gains for the stock markets was the S&P500-Mini (43,471 contracts) with the Russell-Mini (1,741 contracts) and the Nasdaq-Mini (509 contracts) also showing positive weeks.

The markets with the declines in speculator bets were the MSCI EAFE-Mini (-13,702 contracts), the VIX (-3,818 contracts), the DowJones-Mini (-3,550 contracts) and with the Nikkei 225 (-1,571 contracts) also registering lower bets on the week.


Stock Market 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 Nasdaq-Mini & Russell-Mini

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 Nasdaq-Mini (95 percent) and the Russell-Mini (82 percent) lead the stock markets this week. The DowJones-Mini (73 percent) comes in as the next highest in the weekly strength scores.

On the downside, the MSCI EAFE-Mini (35 percent) comes in at the lowest strength level currently with the next lowest strength score being the Nikkei 225 (45 percent).

Strength Statistics:
VIX (52.0 percent) vs VIX previous week (55.4 percent)
S&P500-Mini (58.8 percent) vs S&P500-Mini previous week (52.3 percent)
DowJones-Mini (72.5 percent) vs DowJones-Mini previous week (78.3 percent)
Nasdaq-Mini (95.1 percent) vs Nasdaq-Mini previous week (94.3 percent)
Russell2000-Mini (81.7 percent) vs Russell2000-Mini previous week (80.5 percent)
Nikkei USD (44.6 percent) vs Nikkei USD previous week (58.0 percent)
EAFE-Mini (34.8 percent) vs EAFE-Mini previous week (49.4 percent)


Nasdaq-Mini tops the 6-Week Strength Trends

COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that the Nasdaq-Mini (31 percent) leads the past six weeks trends for the stock markets. The MSCI EAFE-Mini (18 percent) is the next highest positive mover in the latest trends data.

The VIX (-29 percent) leads the downside trend scores currently with the S&P500-Mini (-23 percent) coming in as the next market with lower trend scores.

Strength Trend Statistics:
VIX (-29.3 percent) vs VIX previous week (-39.5 percent)
S&P500-Mini (-22.9 percent) vs S&P500-Mini previous week (-21.8 percent)
DowJones-Mini (-8.8 percent) vs DowJones-Mini previous week (2.4 percent)
Nasdaq-Mini (31.0 percent) vs Nasdaq-Mini previous week (47.2 percent)
Russell2000-Mini (-6.3 percent) vs Russell2000-Mini previous week (-9.6 percent)
Nikkei USD (-15.2 percent) vs Nikkei USD previous week (-21.6 percent)
EAFE-Mini (18.4 percent) vs EAFE-Mini previous week (18.1 percent)


Individual Stock Market Charts:

VIX Volatility Futures:

VIX Volatility Futures COT ChartThe VIX Volatility large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of -48,988 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -3,818 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -45,170 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 52.0 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 49.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 81.0 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Downtrend

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

VIX Volatility Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:19.946.88.0
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:34.232.77.8
– Net Position:-48,98848,253735
– Gross Longs:67,787159,78127,288
– Gross Shorts:116,775111,52826,553
– Long to Short Ratio:0.6 to 11.4 to 11.0 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):52.049.081.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-29.330.0-12.0

 


S&P500 Mini Futures:

SP500 Mini Futures COT ChartThe S&P500 Mini large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of -39,862 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 43,471 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -83,333 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 58.8 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 23.5 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 100.0 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

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

S&P500 Mini Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:12.169.112.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:13.673.76.6
– Net Position:-39,862-118,471158,333
– Gross Longs:313,4201,793,629328,497
– Gross Shorts:353,2821,912,100170,164
– Long to Short Ratio:0.9 to 10.9 to 11.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):58.823.5100.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearishBullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-22.915.815.3

 


Dow Jones Mini Futures:

Dow Jones Mini Futures COT ChartThe Dow Jones Mini large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of 7,521 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -3,550 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 11,071 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 72.5 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 19.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 94.4 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

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

Dow Jones Mini Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:19.756.018.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:12.668.413.3
– Net Position:7,521-13,1455,624
– Gross Longs:20,78059,00919,672
– Gross Shorts:13,25972,15414,048
– Long to Short Ratio:1.6 to 10.8 to 11.4 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):72.519.294.4
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BullishBearish-ExtremeBullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-8.85.89.3

 


Nasdaq Mini Futures:

Nasdaq Mini Futures COT ChartThe Nasdaq Mini large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of 36,082 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly gain of 509 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 35,573 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 95.1 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 2.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 75.7 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

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

Nasdaq Mini Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:29.054.613.2
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:17.969.19.8
– Net Position:36,082-47,17411,092
– Gross Longs:94,151177,34642,919
– Gross Shorts:58,069224,52031,827
– Long to Short Ratio:1.6 to 10.8 to 11.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):95.12.975.7
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bullish-ExtremeBearish-ExtremeBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:31.0-20.9-0.9

 


Russell 2000 Mini Futures:

Russell 2000 Mini Futures COT ChartThe Russell 2000 Mini large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of -416 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 1,741 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -2,157 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 81.7 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 10.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 88.5 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

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

Russell 2000 Mini Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:12.773.38.4
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:12.877.24.4
– Net Position:-416-22,28022,696
– Gross Longs:72,290417,35247,882
– Gross Shorts:72,706439,63225,186
– Long to Short Ratio:1.0 to 10.9 to 11.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):81.710.388.5
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bullish-ExtremeBearish-ExtremeBullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-6.30.822.5

 


Nikkei Stock Average (USD) Futures:

Nikkei Stock Average (USD) Futures COT ChartThe Nikkei Stock Average (USD) large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of -4,174 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -1,571 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -2,603 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 44.6 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 47.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 65.1 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

Nikkei Stock Average Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:4.871.523.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:45.142.312.6
– Net Position:-4,1743,0291,145
– Gross Longs:5017,4192,456
– Gross Shorts:4,6754,3901,311
– Long to Short Ratio:0.1 to 11.7 to 11.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):44.647.665.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBearishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-15.211.81.8

 


MSCI EAFE Mini Futures:

MSCI EAFE Mini Futures COT ChartThe MSCI EAFE Mini large speculator standing this week resulted in a net position of -31,665 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -13,702 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -17,963 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 34.8 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 56.7 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 75.8 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

MSCI EAFE Mini Futures StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:7.184.63.4
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:12.881.11.2
– Net Position:-31,66519,84211,823
– Gross Longs:39,277470,65418,670
– Gross Shorts:70,942450,8126,847
– Long to Short Ratio:0.6 to 11.0 to 12.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):34.856.775.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:18.4-23.124.9

 


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.

Currency Speculators push New Zealand Dollar bets to lowest level since 2019

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 December 10th and shows a quick view of how large market participants (for-profit speculators and commercial traders) were positioned in the futures markets. All currency positions are in direct relation to the US dollar where, for example, a bet for the euro is a bet that the euro will rise versus the dollar while a bet against the euro will be a bet that the euro will decline versus the dollar.

Weekly Speculator Changes led by Japanese Yen & British Pound

The COT currency market speculator bets were overall higher this week as six out of the eleven currency markets we cover had higher positioning while the other five markets had lower speculator contracts.

Leading the gains for the currency markets was the Japanese Yen (23,418 contracts) with the British Pound (7,799 contracts), the Swiss Franc (6,102 contracts), the Mexican Peso (3,744 contracts), the Brazilian Real (1,021 contracts) and Bitcoin (875 contracts) also showing positive weeks.

The currencies seeing declines in speculator bets on the week were the Canadian Dollar (-22,208 contracts), the EuroFX (-18,084 contracts), the Australian Dollar (-12,916 contracts), the New Zealand Dollar (-4,899 contracts) and the US Dollar Index (-170 contracts) also registering lower bets on the week.

Speculators push New Zealand Dollar bets to lowest level since 2019

Highlighting the COT currency’s data this week is the recent large drop in the speculator’s positioning for the New Zealand ‘Kiwi’ Dollar.

Large speculative New Zealand Dollar (NZD) currency positions fell this week by almost -5,000 net contracts and the NZD net positions have now declined in nine out of the past ten weeks. This ten-week drop totals -30,177 contracts and has taken the NZD from a positive net position of +1,970 contracts on October 1st to this week’s net position of +28,207 contracts.

This shortfall in positions has knocked the NZD down to the most bearish level in the past two hundred and sixty-three weeks, dating back to November 26th of 2019. Our strength indicator, which measures a market’s speculator level compared to it’s past three years, shows the NZD at a 0 percent strength score or at a bottom for the past three year’s range.

Nudging the NZD speculator sentiment lower has been recent cuts in interest rates by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) and economic weakness. The RBNZ dropped its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points in November to 4.25 percent as the bank stated, “Economic activity in New Zealand remains subdued and output continues to be below its potential. With excess productive capacity in the economy, inflation pressures have eased.” The RBNZ also reduced the interest rate by 50 basis points in October and by 25 basis points in August. This lowering of interest rates can hurt a currency because lower interest rates can spur traders to sell the currency to find other countries (currencies) with higher interest rates. The higher interest rate will provide a higher interest return and, in turn, if enough traders join in, can help spur the higher interest currency higher as well on a capital gains basis.

The NZD exchange rate versus the US Dollar has been on the decline in tandem with the fall in speculator bets over these past three months. The NZDUSD closed at a multi-year low of 0.5762 this week which marked the lowest level since October of 2022. The NZD had been as high as 0.6385 in September but the rate cuts and economic outlook has pushed the Kiwi lower in ten out of the past eleven weekly closes for an approximate decline by 10 percent versus the US Dollar.


Currencies 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 Japanese Yen & Australian Dollar

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 Japanese Yen (84 percent) and the Australian Dollar (82 percent) lead the currency markets this week.

On the downside, the New Zealand Dollar (0 percent), the EuroFX (0 percent), the US Dollar Index (0 percent) and the Canadian Dollar (7 percent) come in at the lowest strength levels currently and are all in Extreme-Bearish territory (below 20 percent).

3-Year Strength Statistics:
US Dollar Index (0.0 percent) vs US Dollar Index previous week (0.4 percent)
EuroFX (0.0 percent) vs EuroFX previous week (6.9 percent)
British Pound Sterling (48.3 percent) vs British Pound Sterling previous week (44.8 percent)
Japanese Yen (83.9 percent) vs Japanese Yen previous week (74.6 percent)
Swiss Franc (30.0 percent) vs Swiss Franc previous week (17.6 percent)
Canadian Dollar (6.6 percent) vs Canadian Dollar previous week (16.5 percent)
Australian Dollar (82.3 percent) vs Australian Dollar previous week (91.5 percent)
New Zealand Dollar (0.0 percent) vs New Zealand Dollar previous week (8.3 percent)
Mexican Peso (32.8 percent) vs Mexican Peso previous week (30.9 percent)
Brazilian Real (36.5 percent) vs Brazilian Real previous week (35.6 percent)
Bitcoin (35.6 percent) vs Bitcoin previous week (16.5 percent)


Bitcoin & Japanese Yen top the 6-Week Strength Trends

COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that the Bitcoin (25 percent) and the Japanese Yen (20 percent) lead the past six weeks trends and are the only positive movers for the currencies.

The New Zealand Dollar (-44 percent) leads the downside trend scores currently with the British Pound (-18 percent), Mexican Peso (-14 percent) and the Australian Dollar (-14 percent) following next with lower trend scores.

3-Year Strength Trends:
US Dollar Index (-10.2 percent) vs US Dollar Index previous week (-8.2 percent)
EuroFX (-9.6 percent) vs EuroFX previous week (-11.0 percent)
British Pound Sterling (-17.6 percent) vs British Pound Sterling previous week (-24.8 percent)
Japanese Yen (20.2 percent) vs Japanese Yen previous week (-4.2 percent)
Swiss Franc (-2.0 percent) vs Swiss Franc previous week (-17.1 percent)
Canadian Dollar (-6.3 percent) vs Canadian Dollar previous week (-8.4 percent)
Australian Dollar (-13.5 percent) vs Australian Dollar previous week (-4.5 percent)
New Zealand Dollar (-44.2 percent) vs New Zealand Dollar previous week (-39.0 percent)
Mexican Peso (-13.8 percent) vs Mexican Peso previous week (-10.1 percent)
Brazilian Real (-11.5 percent) vs Brazilian Real previous week (-13.9 percent)
Bitcoin (25.1 percent) vs Bitcoin previous week (1.1 percent)


Individual COT Forex Markets:

US Dollar Index Futures:

US Dollar Index Forex Futures COT ChartThe US Dollar Index large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -3,224 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -170 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -3,054 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 97.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 36.8 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend

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

US DOLLAR INDEX StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:56.126.99.9
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:63.922.26.8
– Net Position:-3,2241,9401,284
– Gross Longs:22,88310,9864,052
– Gross Shorts:26,1079,0462,768
– Long to Short Ratio:0.9 to 11.2 to 11.5 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):0.097.936.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-10.26.417.2

 


Euro Currency Futures:

Euro Currency Futures COT ChartThe Euro Currency large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -75,573 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -18,084 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -57,489 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 17.5 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

EURO Currency StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:21.662.211.6
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:32.054.78.7
– Net Position:-75,57354,71620,857
– Gross Longs:157,375452,31184,363
– Gross Shorts:232,948397,59563,506
– Long to Short Ratio:0.7 to 11.1 to 11.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):0.0100.017.5
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-9.67.94.6

 


British Pound Sterling Futures:

British Pound Sterling Futures COT ChartThe British Pound Sterling large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 27,125 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 7,799 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 19,326 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 48.3 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 52.7 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 51.2 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

BRITISH POUND StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:33.052.38.5
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:24.359.310.2
– Net Position:27,125-21,904-5,221
– Gross Longs:102,763162,91226,568
– Gross Shorts:75,638184,81631,789
– Long to Short Ratio:1.4 to 10.9 to 10.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):48.352.751.2
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-17.620.8-27.7

 


Japanese Yen Futures:

Japanese Yen Forex Futures COT ChartThe Japanese Yen large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 25,752 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly advance of 23,418 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 2,334 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 83.9 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 19.4 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 60.9 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

JAPANESE YEN StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:35.642.913.4
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:26.351.813.8
– Net Position:25,752-24,598-1,154
– Gross Longs:97,938117,77536,894
– Gross Shorts:72,186142,37338,048
– Long to Short Ratio:1.4 to 10.8 to 11.0 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):83.919.460.9
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bullish-ExtremeBearish-ExtremeBullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:20.2-19.45.1

 


Swiss Franc Futures:

Swiss Franc Forex Futures COT ChartThe Swiss Franc large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -34,992 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly boost of 6,102 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -41,094 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 30.0 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 84.8 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.

SWISS FRANC StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:4.481.58.1
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:36.433.723.9
– Net Position:-34,99252,309-17,317
– Gross Longs:4,79689,1888,877
– Gross Shorts:39,78836,87926,194
– Long to Short Ratio:0.1 to 12.4 to 10.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):30.084.80.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullish-ExtremeBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-2.017.3-43.2

 


Canadian Dollar Futures:

Canadian Dollar Forex Futures COT ChartThe Canadian Dollar large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -181,554 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -22,208 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -159,346 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 6.6 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 96.8 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.

CANADIAN DOLLAR StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:7.181.77.4
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:51.633.710.9
– Net Position:-181,554195,936-14,382
– Gross Longs:29,034333,50630,191
– Gross Shorts:210,588137,57044,573
– Long to Short Ratio:0.1 to 12.4 to 10.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):6.696.80.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-6.38.9-20.1

 


Australian Dollar Futures:

Australian Dollar Forex Futures COT ChartThe Australian Dollar large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 8,485 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly fall of -12,916 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 21,401 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 82.3 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 29.5 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 28.7 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:37.146.811.1
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:33.647.114.4
– Net Position:8,485-735-7,750
– Gross Longs:88,751111,88426,561
– Gross Shorts:80,266112,61934,311
– Long to Short Ratio:1.1 to 11.0 to 10.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):82.329.528.7
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bullish-ExtremeBearishBearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-13.522.1-47.7

 


New Zealand Dollar Futures:

New Zealand Dollar Forex Futures COT ChartThe New Zealand Dollar large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -28,207 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lowering of -4,899 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -23,308 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 7.1 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:20.071.23.6
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:48.738.87.3
– Net Position:-28,20731,847-3,640
– Gross Longs:19,60569,8793,520
– Gross Shorts:47,81238,0327,160
– Long to Short Ratio:0.4 to 11.8 to 10.5 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):0.0100.07.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):Bearish-ExtremeBullish-ExtremeBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-44.245.4-28.0

 


Mexican Peso Futures:

Mexican Peso Futures COT ChartThe Mexican Peso large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of 7,928 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly rise of 3,744 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 4,184 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 32.8 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 71.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 13.0 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

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

MEXICAN PESO StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:38.446.72.5
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:33.450.53.6
– Net Position:7,928-6,173-1,755
– Gross Longs:61,64375,0134,073
– Gross Shorts:53,71581,1865,828
– Long to Short Ratio:1.1 to 10.9 to 10.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):32.871.013.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-13.813.09.5

 


Brazilian Real Futures:

Brazil Real Futures COT ChartThe Brazilian Real large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -16,393 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly rise of 1,021 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -17,414 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 36.5 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 65.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 16.4 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

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

BRAZIL REAL StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:45.448.03.2
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:68.623.74.3
– Net Position:-16,39317,176-783
– Gross Longs:32,18733,9822,279
– Gross Shorts:48,58016,8063,062
– Long to Short Ratio:0.7 to 12.0 to 10.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):36.565.316.4
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:-11.512.0-3.7

 


Bitcoin Futures:

Bitcoin Crypto Futures COT ChartThe Bitcoin large speculator standing this week came in at a net position of -720 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly boost of 875 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -1,595 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 35.6 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 69.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 46.1 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend

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

BITCOIN StatisticsSPECULATORSCOMMERCIALSSMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:82.94.64.3
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:84.84.03.0
– Net Position:-720236484
– Gross Longs:31,1681,7211,627
– Gross Shorts:31,8881,4851,143
– Long to Short Ratio:1.0 to 11.2 to 11.4 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):35.669.346.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):BearishBullishBearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:25.1-25.1-10.6

 


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.

Speculator Extremes: Lean Hogs & Nasdaq lead weekly Bullish Positions

By InvestMacro 

The latest update for the weekly Commitment of Traders (COT) report was released by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on Friday for data ending on December 10th.

This weekly Extreme Positions report highlights the Most Bullish and Most Bearish Positions for the speculator category. Extreme positioning in these markets can foreshadow strong moves in the underlying market.

To signify an extreme position, we use the Strength Index (also known as the COT Index) of each instrument, a common method of measuring COT data. The Strength Index is simply a comparison of current trader positions against the range of positions over the previous 3 years. We use over 80 percent as extremely bullish and under 20 percent as extremely bearish. (Compare Strength Index scores across all markets in the data table or cot leaders table)


 


Here Are This Week’s Most Bullish Speculator Positions:

Lean Hogs


The Lean Hogs speculator position comes in as the most bullish extreme standing once again this week. The Lean Hogs speculator level is currently at a 99.8 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the percent strength score totaled 23.8 this week. The overall net speculator position was a total of 91,522 net contracts this week with a small dip of -237 contract in the weekly speculator bets.


Speculators or Non-Commercials Notes:

Speculators, classified as non-commercial traders by the CFTC, are made up of large commodity funds, hedge funds and other significant for-profit participants. The Specs are generally regarded as trend-followers in their behavior towards price action – net speculator bets and prices tend to go in the same directions. These traders often look to buy when prices are rising and sell when prices are falling. To illustrate this point, many times speculator contracts can be found at their most extremes (bullish or bearish) when prices are also close to their highest or lowest levels.

These extreme levels can be dangerous for the large speculators as the trade is most crowded, there is less trading ammunition still sitting on the sidelines to push the trend further and prices have moved a significant distance. When the trend becomes exhausted, some speculators take profits while others look to also exit positions when prices fail to continue in the same direction. This process usually plays out over many months to years and can ultimately create a reverse effect where prices start to fall and speculators start a process of selling when prices are falling.


Nasdaq


The Nasdaq speculator position comes next in the extreme standings this week. The Nasdaq speculator level is now at a 94.3 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the percent strength score was 47.2 this week. The speculator position registered 35,573 net contracts this week with a weekly rise of 5,882 contracts in speculator bets.


Ultra U.S. Treasury Bonds


The Ultra U.S. Treasury Bonds speculator position comes in third this week in the extreme standings. The Ultra U.S. Treasury Bonds speculator level resides at a 91.7 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the speculator strength score came in at 35.8 this week. The overall speculator position was -216,372 net contracts this week with a decline of -2,020 contracts in the weekly speculator bets.


Live Cattle


The Live Cattle speculator position comes up number four in the extreme standings this week. The Live Cattle speculator level is at a 89.7 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the speculator strength score totaled a change of 22.6 this week. The overall speculator position was 102,701 net contracts this week with a gain of 5,657 contracts in the speculator bets.


Coffee


The Coffee speculator position rounds out the top five in this week’s bullish extreme standings. The Coffee speculator level sits at a 86.4 percent score of its 3-year range. The six-week trend for the speculator strength score was -3.1 this week.

The speculator position was 62,074 net contracts this week with a decrease by -4,653 contracts in the weekly speculator bets.



This Week’s Most Bearish Speculator Positions:

Heating Oil


The Heating Oil speculator position comes in as the most bearish extreme standing this week. The Heating Oil speculator level is at a 0.0 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the speculator strength score was -21.7 this week. The overall speculator position was -32,954 net contracts this week with a drop of -10,675 contracts in the speculator bets.


New Zealand Dollar


The New Zealand Dollar speculator position comes in next for the most bearish extreme standing on the week. The New Zealand Dollar speculator level is at a 0.0 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the speculator strength score was -44.2 this week. The speculator position was -28,207 net contracts this week with a shortfall of -4,899 contracts in the weekly speculator bets.


Euro


The Euro speculator position comes in as third most bearish extreme standing of the week. The Euro speculator level resides at a 0.0 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the speculator strength score was -9.6 this week. The overall speculator position was -75,573 net contracts this week with a decrease by -18,084 contracts in the speculator bets.


US Dollar Index


The US Dollar Index speculator position comes in as this week’s fourth most bearish extreme standing. The US Dollar Index speculator level is at a 0.0 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the speculator strength score was -10.2 this week. The speculator position was -3,224 net contracts this week with a dip of -170 contracts in the weekly speculator bets.


Canadian Dollar


Finally, the Canadian Dollar speculator position comes in as the fifth most bearish extreme standing for this week. The Canadian Dollar speculator level is at a 6.6 percent score of its 3-year range.

The six-week trend for the speculator strength score was -6.3 this week. The speculator position was -181,554 net contracts this week with a decrease of -22,208 contracts in the weekly speculator bets.


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.