Financial News :: Page 191

Archive for Financial News – Page 191

Analysts forecast a significant euro rise by the year’s end. Inflation in China returned to positive dynamics

At the close of the stock market on Friday, the Dow Jones Index (US30) increased by 0.22% (-0.86% for the week), while the S&P 500 Index (US500) added 0.14% (-1.61% for the week). The NASDAQ Technology Index (US100) closed positive by 0.09% on Friday (-2.61% for the week). Strengthening crude oil prices on Friday boosted energy stocks and the broader market. Stocks also received support as the likelihood grew regarding a pause in Fed rate hikes amid comments from Dallas FRB Governor Lorie Logan, who stated the following: “Another pass at raising interest rates may be appropriate at the FOMC meeting later this month.” Markets rate the odds of a 25 bps rate hike at the September 20 FOMC meeting at 7% and a 25 bps rate hike at the November 1 FOMC meeting at 48%.

Friday’s US economic news was negative for equities after consumer credit rose by $10.399 billion in July, weaker than expectations of $16.000 billion. On Friday, Canadian labor market data was released. In July, the number of employed in the Canadian economy increased by 39.9k, which was above expectations of 18.9k. The unemployment rate remained at 5.5%. A more detailed report showed that overall, Canada’s labor market remains resilient, but imbalances in certain sectors are widening, which could lead to problems in the future.

A draft document prepared by G-20 leaders meeting this weekend in India warned that “cascading crises” pose challenges to long-term economic growth and called for coordinated macroeconomic policies to support the global economy. In addition, global economic growth is uneven and below the long-term average as uncertainty about the economic outlook remains high, and the balance of risks tilts to the downside.

Equity markets in Europe were mostly up on Friday. Germany’s DAX (DE40) increased by 0.14% (-1.03% for the week), France’s CAC 40 (FR40) gained 0.62% (-1.25% for the week), Spain’s IBEX 35 (ES35) added 0.61% (-1.27% for the week), and the UK’s FTSE 100 (UK100) closed up by 0.49% (+0.18% for the week).

Berenberg currency analysts believe that the leveling of interest rates in the US and Europe, as well as the declining attractiveness of the US dollar as a safe haven, point to the possibility of a revival of the euro in the coming periods. Excess US government debt combined with potential refinancing difficulties could put downward pressure on dollar strength and give confidence to the euro. By the end of 2023, analysts forecast a significant strengthening of the euro against the dollar to 1.1200.

Asian markets were predominantly up last week. Japan’s Nikkei 225 (JP225) decreased by 0.58% for the week, China’s FTSE China A50 (CHA50) fell by 2.77%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HK50) ended the week down by 2.10%, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 (AU200) ended the week negative by 1.67%.

HSBC currency strategists revised downward their forecasts for the Australian (AUD) and New Zealand (NZD) dollars against the US dollar (USD). Firstly, they assume that AUD and NZD will experience a weakening trend before stabilizing in the second quarter of 2024, with AUD/USD and NZD/USD rates reaching 0.62 and 0.55, respectively, by the end of the first half of 2024.

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said over the weekend that the central bank may end its negative interest rate policy when the 2% inflation target is reached, indicating a possible interest rate hike. Ueda said the central bank may have enough data by the end of the year to determine whether it can end negative rates. Currently, the BoJ is targeting short-term interest rates at 0.1% as part of its negative rate policy. In addition, 10-year government bond yields are at zero as part of efforts to revitalize the economy and sustainably meet targets.

Consumer prices in China returned to positive momentum in August, while the decline in factory prices slowed. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.1% year-on-year in August, slower than the median estimate of a 0.2% increase. The CPI declined by 0.3% in July. Core inflation, which excludes food and fuel prices, was unchanged at 0.8% in August. The Producer Price Index (PPI) fell by 3.0% from a year earlier, which was in line with expectations, after falling by 4.4% in July. According to analysts, overall, rate inflation still points to weak demand and requires more active policy support from the government.

S&P 500 (F)(US500) 4,457.49 +6.35 (+0.14%)

Dow Jones (US30) 34,576.59 +75.86 (+0.22%)

DAX (DE40) 15,740.30 +21.64 (+0.14%)

FTSE 100 (UK100) 7,478.19 +36.47 (+0.49%)

USD Index 105.07 +0.01 (+0.01%)

By JustMarkets

This article reflects a personal opinion and should not be interpreted as an investment advice, and/or offer, and/or a persistent request for carrying out financial transactions, and/or a guarantee, and/or a forecast of future events.

Economics & Fundamentals Financial News

11 Sep

Trade Of The Week: Gold Outlook Hinges On US CPI Data

By ForexTime

Gold prices caught our attention on Monday morning after briefly punching above $1930 as the dollar retreated.

Over the last few weeks, the precious metal has been influenced by conflicting forces and this continues to be reflected in the choppy price action. The potent cocktail of themes ranging from Fed hike expectations, global growth concerns, and dollar volatility among others have trapped prices within a wide range.

Bulls and bears remain engaged in a fierce tug of war with a fresh fundamental spark needed to shift the scales of power in one direction. Regarding the technical outlook, gold is still respecting a bearish channel on the weekly charts. However, strong support can be found at $1915 – a level where the 200-day SMA resides.

This could be an intense week for gold and here are 3 reasons why:

US August CPI report

The August US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report published on Wednesday, September 13 will act as a critical piece of information that determines whether the Fed will keep rates higher for longer.

Given gold’s zero-yielding nature, this pending report has the potential to trigger explosive levels of volatility.

Market expectations for US August CPI:

CPI year-on-year (August 2023 vs. August 2022) to rise 3.6% from 3.2% in the prior month.
Core CPI year-on-year to rise 4.3% from 4.7% seen in July.
CPI month-on-month (August 2023 vs. August 2023) to rise 0.6% from 0.2% in the prior month.
Core CPI month-on-month to remain unchanged at 0.2% from 0.2% seen in July.

Headline inflation is expected to jump thanks to higher energy costs, but all eyes will be on the core CPI figures which are forecast to remain unchanged month-on-month. Ultimately, further signs of cooling inflationary pressures may feed the argument around the Fed concluding its hiking cycle.

It is worth noting that traders are currently pricing in a 7% probability of a 25-basis point hike this month, with this jumping to 44% by November, according to Fed funds futures.

Gold prices could shine if the inflation numbers print below market forecast, as signs of slowing inflation strengthen the argument around the Fed already finished with hikes in 2023.
Should the inflation figures print above market forecasts, gold prices are likely to depreciate as expectations rise around the Fed having headroom to hike one time this year.

US data dump

After the main course, which is the US CPI report, investors will be dished out more key US economic reports in the second half of the trading week to complete the meal.

All eyes will be on the US retail sales, PPI, initial jobless claims, industrial production, and University of Michigan consumer sentiment which could provide insight into the health of the US economy. When factoring the Fed’s emphasis on data-dependence when it comes to monetary policy decisions, this data dump could trigger dollar volatility – ultimately impacting gold prices.

Should the overall US economic data print below market expectations, this may weaken the dollar – pushing gold prices higher.
If overall US economic data prints above expectations, the dollar could receive a boost – dragging gold prices lower.

Technical forces

Despite rebounding from the 200-day SMA, gold prices remain trapped within a range on the daily charts with support at $1915 and resistance at $1931 where the 50-day SMA resides.

Gold could be in the process of a technical rebound or pullback with both technical and fundamental forces determining where prices conclude the week.

A solid daily breakout and close above $1931 could signal a move higher with the next key level of interest found at $1953.
Should prices slip back under the $1915 support, this may invite bears to attack $1900 and $1885, respectively.

Article by ForexTime

ForexTime Ltd (FXTM) is an award winning international online forex broker regulated by CySEC 185/12 www.forextime.com

Financial News Metals

10 Sep

Interest Rates: From 0% to Above 5% — to …?

“The lines in the chart will turn up, and no policy will stop it”

By Elliott Wave International

As you’re probably aware, many people who want to borrow to make a major purchase like a house or a car are bemoaning higher interest rates.

It wasn’t so long ago that 3-month T-bill rates were around zero, and at least one prominent figure at the Federal Reserve said rates needed to stay super low for a good while.

Indeed, let’s go back to this June 18, 2021 headline (CNBC):

Fed’s Kashkari opposed to rate hikes at least through 2023

Well, as Elliott Wave International has said time and again, the market determines the trend of bond yields (and interest rates), not the Fed. The Fed merely follows the bond market.

Nearly a month after that Fed official called for a continuation of very low rates, the July 13, 2021 Elliott Wave Theorist offered its own perspective via this chart and commentary (The Elliott Wave Theorist is a monthly publication which provides insights into major financial and social trends):

Rates at Zero, but Not for Long

[The chart] shows that U.S. Treasury bill rates have edged closer and closer to zero …. Nonexistent T-bill yields are due to one thing: historically elevated social mood. … When optimism and complacency finally melt like popsicles in the sun, the lines in [the chart] will turn up, and no policy will stop it.

Fast forward to the just-published August 2023 Elliott Wave Theorist, which provides an update on that July 2021 call with this chart:

As you can see, since our forecast, the 3-month T-bill rates have climbed from around zero to north of 5%. The black arrow points to the juncture at which the July 2021 Theorist made that noteworthy forecast. Mind you, Elliott Wave International was almost alone in making such a call.

Is the rise in interest rates over?

Well, at least one observer says “no.” This Aug. 18 Fox Business caption captures the view of a contributor to a news and opinion website:

[Financial and economics editor]: Interest rates will go higher than Americans think

This is in stark contrast to a recent Reuters poll of economists, the majority of whom say that interest rates have plateaued.

Who’s right?

You may want to check out a chart of bond yields and its Elliott wave structure.

If you’re unfamiliar with Elliott wave analysis, read Frost & Prechter’s Wall Street classic, Elliott Wave Principle: Key to Market Behavior. Here’s a quote from the book:

Without Elliott, there appear to be an infinite number of possibilities for market action. What the Wave Principle provides is a means of first limiting the possibilities and then ordering the relative probabilities of possible future market paths. Elliott’s highly specific rules reduce the number of valid alternatives to a minimum.

If you’d like to find out about “Elliott’s highly specific rules,” you can do so by reading the online version of Elliott Wave Principle: Key to Market Behavior for free.

That’s right — Elliott Wave International has made this definitive text on Elliott wave analysis available to Club EWI members for free. A Club EWI membership is also free and members enjoy free access to a wealth of Elliott wave educational resources.

Join the approximately 500,000 Club EWI members who are already gaining insights into trading and investing from an Elliott wave perspective by following this link: Elliott Wave Principle: Key to Market Behavior(get free access now).

This article was syndicated by Elliott Wave International and was originally published under the headline Interest Rates: From 0% to Above 5% — to …?. EWI is the world’s largest market forecasting firm. Its staff of full-time analysts led by Chartered Market Technician Robert Prechter provides 24-hour-a-day market analysis to institutional and private investors around the world.

Bonds Economics & Fundamentals Financial News

09 Sep

COT Bonds Charts: Speculator Changes led by Fed Funds & 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 September 5th 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 Fed Funds & 10-Year Bonds

The COT bond market speculator bets were mixed this week as four out of the eight 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 Fed Funds (102,419 contracts) with the 10-Year Bonds (14,018 contracts), the Ultra 10-Year Bonds (7,444 contracts) and the Ultra Treasury Bonds (2,598 contracts) also showing positive weeks.

The bond markets with declines in speculator bets for the week were the US Treasury Bonds (-7,692 contracts), the 5-Year Bonds (-51,645 contracts), the SOFR 3-Months (-53,150 contracts) and the 2-Year Bonds (-48,034 contracts) also registering lower bets on the week.

Data Snapshot of Bond Market Traders | Columns Legend

Sep-05-2023	OI	OI-Index	Spec-Net	Spec-Index	Com-Net	COM-Index	Smalls-Net	Smalls-Index
SOFR-3-Months	10,646,087	100	272,072	96	-267,065	3	-5,007	85
FedFunds	1,352,672	34	-146,890	32	160,100	69	-13,210	65
2-Year	3,661,941	85	-1,217,890	4	1,114,532	98	103,358	90
Long T-Bond	1,343,057	73	-198,292	20	152,417	65	45,875	82
10-Year	4,718,782	90	-791,535	6	770,685	100	20,850	78
5-Year	5,415,832	85	-1,056,268	15	969,413	81	86,855	93

Strength Scores led by SOFR 3-Months & Fed Funds

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 SOFR 3-Months (96 percent) and the Fed Funds (32 percent) lead the bond markets this week. The Ultra Treasury Bonds (32 percent) comes in as the next highest in the weekly strength scores.

On the downside, the 2-Year Bonds (4 percent) and the 10-Year Bonds (6 percent) come in at the lowest strength level currently and are in Extreme-Bearish territory (below 20 percent). The next lowest strength scores were the Ultra 10-Year Bonds (8 percent) and the 5-Year Bonds (15 percent).

Strength Statistics:
Fed Funds (31.9 percent) vs Fed Funds previous week (13.1 percent)
2-Year Bond (3.9 percent) vs 2-Year Bond previous week (7.4 percent)
5-Year Bond (14.8 percent) vs 5-Year Bond previous week (18.7 percent)
10-Year Bond (5.7 percent) vs 10-Year Bond previous week (4.3 percent)
Ultra 10-Year Bond (8.4 percent) vs Ultra 10-Year Bond previous week (6.9 percent)
US Treasury Bond (20.1 percent) vs US Treasury Bond previous week (22.6 percent)
Ultra US Treasury Bond (31.6 percent) vs Ultra US Treasury Bond previous week (30.5 percent)
SOFR 3-Months (96.4 percent) vs SOFR 3-Months previous week (100.0 percent)

Ultra Treasury Bonds & SOFR 3-Months top the 6-Week Strength Trends

COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that the Ultra Treasury Bonds (27 percent) and the SOFR 3-Months (18 percent) lead the past six weeks trends for bonds. The 5-Year Bonds (6 percent) and the are the next highest positive movers in the latest trends data.

The US Treasury Bonds (-17 percent) and the 10-Year Bonds (-16 percent) lead the downside trend scores currently with the 2-Year Bonds (-5 percent) and the Fed Funds (2 percent) following next with lower trend scores.

Strength Trend Statistics:
Fed Funds (2.2 percent) vs Fed Funds previous week (-16.3 percent)
2-Year Bond (-5.3 percent) vs 2-Year Bond previous week (-3.7 percent)
5-Year Bond (6.0 percent) vs 5-Year Bond previous week (10.4 percent)
10-Year Bond (-16.3 percent) vs 10-Year Bond previous week (-17.1 percent)
Ultra 10-Year Bond (4.3 percent) vs Ultra 10-Year Bond previous week (0.1 percent)
US Treasury Bond (-17.1 percent) vs US Treasury Bond previous week (-15.4 percent)
Ultra US Treasury Bond (26.8 percent) vs Ultra US Treasury Bond previous week (23.6 percent)
SOFR 3-Months (18.2 percent) vs SOFR 3-Months previous week (26.1 percent)

Secured Overnight Financing Rate (3-Month) Futures:

The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (3-Month) large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of 272,072 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -53,150 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 325,222 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 96.4 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 3.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 85.1 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Weak Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

SOFR 3-Months Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	17.7	58.2	0.3
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	15.1	60.7	0.3
– Net Position:	272,072	-267,065	-5,007
– Gross Longs:	1,882,391	6,190,897	28,482
– Gross Shorts:	1,610,319	6,457,962	33,489
– Long to Short Ratio:	1.2 to 1	1.0 to 1	0.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	96.4	3.3	85.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish-Extreme	Bearish-Extreme	Bullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	18.2	-19.1	6.2

30-Day Federal Funds Futures:

The 30-Day Federal Funds large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -146,890 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly rise of 102,419 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -249,309 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 31.9 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 69.1 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 65.1 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

30-Day Federal Funds Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	7.1	72.5	2.2
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	18.0	60.6	3.2
– Net Position:	-146,890	160,100	-13,210
– Gross Longs:	96,359	980,022	29,657
– Gross Shorts:	243,249	819,922	42,867
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.4 to 1	1.2 to 1	0.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	31.9	69.1	65.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish	Bullish	Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	2.2	-1.7	-5.2

2-Year Treasury Note Futures:

The 2-Year Treasury Note large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -1,217,890 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly fall of -48,034 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -1,169,856 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 3.9 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 97.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 90.0 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

2-Year Treasury Note Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	9.3	82.3	7.0
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	42.6	51.8	4.2
– Net Position:	-1,217,890	1,114,532	103,358
– Gross Longs:	341,198	3,013,032	255,487
– Gross Shorts:	1,559,088	1,898,500	152,129
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.2 to 1	1.6 to 1	1.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	3.9	97.6	90.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish-Extreme	Bullish-Extreme	Bullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-5.3	5.3	3.4

5-Year Treasury Note Futures:

The 5-Year Treasury Note large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -1,056,268 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -51,645 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -1,004,623 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 14.8 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 80.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 92.5 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

5-Year Treasury Note Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	7.8	83.6	7.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	27.3	65.7	6.1
– Net Position:	-1,056,268	969,413	86,855
– Gross Longs:	424,157	4,525,006	414,910
– Gross Shorts:	1,480,425	3,555,593	328,055
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.3 to 1	1.3 to 1	1.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	14.8	80.6	92.5
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish-Extreme	Bullish-Extreme	Bullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	6.0	-10.0	10.2

10-Year Treasury Note Futures:

The 10-Year Treasury Note large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -791,535 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 14,018 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -805,553 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 5.7 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 100.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 78.1 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

10-Year Treasury Note Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	9.6	79.2	8.8
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	26.4	62.9	8.4
– Net Position:	-791,535	770,685	20,850
– Gross Longs:	454,880	3,738,091	416,866
– Gross Shorts:	1,246,415	2,967,406	396,016
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.4 to 1	1.3 to 1	1.1 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	5.7	100.0	78.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish-Extreme	Bullish-Extreme	Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-16.3	17.9	-0.7

Ultra 10-Year Notes Futures:

The Ultra 10-Year Notes large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -177,048 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly rise of 7,444 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -184,492 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish-Extreme with a score of 8.4 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 91.8 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 59.5 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Weak Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

Ultra 10-Year Notes Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	11.6	76.8	10.1
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	21.6	61.6	15.3
– Net Position:	-177,048	268,877	-91,829
– Gross Longs:	206,129	1,360,518	179,479
– Gross Shorts:	383,177	1,091,641	271,308
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.5 to 1	1.2 to 1	0.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	8.4	91.8	59.5
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish-Extreme	Bullish-Extreme	Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	4.3	-5.1	1.6

US Treasury Bonds Futures:

The US Treasury Bonds large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -198,292 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lowering of -7,692 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -190,600 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 20.1 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 65.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 81.8 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

US Treasury Bonds Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	6.2	78.5	14.3
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	21.0	67.1	10.9
– Net Position:	-198,292	152,417	45,875
– Gross Longs:	83,153	1,053,899	191,920
– Gross Shorts:	281,445	901,482	146,045
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.3 to 1	1.2 to 1	1.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	20.1	65.0	81.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish	Bullish	Bullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-17.1	20.4	-3.5

Ultra US Treasury Bonds Futures:

The Ultra US Treasury Bonds large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -378,271 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly boost of 2,598 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -380,869 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 31.6 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 72.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 57.4 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

Ultra US Treasury Bonds Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	5.6	82.6	11.1
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	30.0	59.6	9.7
– Net Position:	-378,271	356,792	21,479
– Gross Longs:	86,222	1,279,191	171,723
– Gross Shorts:	464,493	922,399	150,244
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.2 to 1	1.4 to 1	1.1 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	31.6	72.9	57.4
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish	Bullish	Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	26.8	-14.9	-33.6

Article By InvestMacro – Receive our weekly COT Newsletter

*COT Report: The COT data, released weekly to the public each Friday, is updated through the most recent Tuesday (data is 3 days old) and shows a quick view of how large speculators or non-commercials (for-profit traders) were positioned in the futures markets.

The CFTC categorizes trader positions according to commercial hedgers (traders who use futures contracts for hedging as part of the business), non-commercials (large traders who speculate to realize trading profits) and nonreportable traders (usually small traders/speculators) as well as their open interest (contracts open in the market at time of reporting). See CFTC criteria here.

Bonds COT Updates Financial News

09 Sep

COT Metals Charts: Weekly Speculator Bets led by Copper & Gold

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 September 5th and shows a quick view of how large traders (for-profit speculators and commercial entities) were positioned in the futures markets.

Weekly Speculator Changes led by Copper & Gold

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

Leading the gains for the metals was with Gold (14,734 contracts) and Copper (9,846 contracts) also showing positive weeks.

The markets with declines in speculator bets for the week were Palladium (-1,045 contracts) with Platinum (-436 contracts), Silver (-329 contracts) and Steel (-320 contracts) also registering lower bets on the week.

Data Snapshot of Commodity Market Traders | Columns Legend

Sep-05-2023	OI	OI-Index	Spec-Net	Spec-Index	Com-Net	COM-Index	Smalls-Net	Smalls-Index
Gold	438,672	8	138,006	38	-158,239	63	20,233	31
Silver	128,279	17	26,804	56	-37,708	48	10,904	27
Copper	193,597	37	-6,770	25	4,659	75	2,111	32
Palladium	17,644	80	-11,021	0	10,888	100	133	50
Platinum	68,721	53	14,602	49	-19,001	54	4,399	27

Strength Scores led by Steel & Silver

On the downside, Palladium (0 percent) comes in at the lowest strength level currently and is in Extreme-Bearish territory (below 20 percent). The next lowest strength score was Copper (25 percent).

Strength Statistics:
Gold (37.8 percent) vs Gold previous week (31.3 percent)
Silver (56.5 percent) vs Silver previous week (57.0 percent)
Copper (25.0 percent) vs Copper previous week (16.5 percent)
Platinum (49.3 percent) vs Platinum previous week (50.3 percent)
Palladium (0.0 percent) vs Palladium previous week (7.1 percent)
Steel (61.2 percent) vs Palladium previous week (62.2 percent)

Platinum & Copper top the 6-Week Strength Trends

COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that Platinum (-2 percent) and Copper (-7 percent) lead the past six weeks trends for metals with the least negative scores.

Palladium (-18 percent), Gold (-16 percent) and Silver (-14 percent) leads the downside trend scores currently.

Move Statistics:
Gold (-15.7 percent) vs Gold previous week (-30.8 percent)
Silver (-14.4 percent) vs Silver previous week (-23.9 percent)
Copper (-6.9 percent) vs Copper previous week (-11.3 percent)
Platinum (-2.0 percent) vs Platinum previous week (-1.6 percent)
Palladium (-17.9 percent) vs Palladium previous week (-11.0 percent)
Steel (-8.0 percent) vs Steel previous week (-11.0 percent)

Individual Markets:

Gold Comex Futures:

The Gold Comex Futures large speculator standing this week totaled a net position of 138,006 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly increase of 14,734 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 123,272 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 37.8 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 62.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 30.6 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

Gold Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	53.8	25.4	10.5
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	22.3	61.5	5.9
– Net Position:	138,006	-158,239	20,233
– Gross Longs:	235,802	111,456	45,966
– Gross Shorts:	97,796	269,695	25,733
– Long to Short Ratio:	2.4 to 1	0.4 to 1	1.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	37.8	62.9	30.6
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish	Bullish	Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-15.7	15.4	-10.9

Silver Comex Futures:

The Silver Comex Futures large speculator standing this week totaled a net position of 26,804 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -329 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 27,133 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 56.5 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 48.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 26.9 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

Silver Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	44.9	31.2	18.6
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	24.0	60.6	10.1
– Net Position:	26,804	-37,708	10,904
– Gross Longs:	57,558	40,052	23,814
– Gross Shorts:	30,754	77,760	12,910
– Long to Short Ratio:	1.9 to 1	0.5 to 1	1.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	56.5	48.2	26.9
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish	Bearish	Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-14.4	14.5	-10.6

Copper Grade #1 Futures:

The Copper Grade #1 Futures large speculator standing this week totaled a net position of -6,770 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly advance of 9,846 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -16,616 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 25.0 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 75.5 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 31.8 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

Copper Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	34.7	40.7	7.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	38.2	38.3	6.6
– Net Position:	-6,770	4,659	2,111
– Gross Longs:	67,118	78,867	14,880
– Gross Shorts:	73,888	74,208	12,769
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.9 to 1	1.1 to 1	1.2 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	25.0	75.5	31.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish	Bullish	Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-6.9	7.1	-4.0

Platinum Futures:

The Platinum Futures large speculator standing this week totaled a net position of 14,602 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -436 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 15,038 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 49.3 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 54.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 27.1 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

Platinum Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	53.8	25.0	11.2
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	32.6	52.7	4.8
– Net Position:	14,602	-19,001	4,399
– Gross Longs:	36,991	17,212	7,704
– Gross Shorts:	22,389	36,213	3,305
– Long to Short Ratio:	1.7 to 1	0.5 to 1	2.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	49.3	54.2	27.1
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish	Bullish	Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-2.0	3.0	-7.4

Palladium Futures:

The Palladium Futures large speculator standing this week totaled a net position of -11,021 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -1,045 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -9,976 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 with a score of 49.7 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

Palladium Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	22.7	64.0	9.9
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	85.2	2.3	9.1
– Net Position:	-11,021	10,888	133
– Gross Longs:	4,008	11,296	1,746
– Gross Shorts:	15,029	408	1,613
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.3 to 1	27.7 to 1	1.1 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	0.0	100.0	49.7
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish-Extreme	Bullish-Extreme	Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-17.9	13.0	39.4

Steel Futures Futures:

The Steel Futures large speculator standing this week totaled a net position of -4,442 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -320 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -4,122 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 61.2 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 38.3 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 50.9 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

Steel Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	5.5	87.6	3.1
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	28.6	65.7	1.9
– Net Position:	-4,442	4,220	222
– Gross Longs:	1,058	16,848	587
– Gross Shorts:	5,500	12,628	365
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.2 to 1	1.3 to 1	1.6 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	61.2	38.3	50.9
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish	Bearish	Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-8.0	7.6	17.0

Article By InvestMacro – Receive our weekly COT Newsletter

COT Updates Financial News Metals

09 Sep

Stock Market Charts: Weekly Speculator Changes led lower by MSCI EAFE-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 September 5th 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 Nikkei 225

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

Leading the gains for the stock markets was the Nikkei 225 with a small gain of 591 contracts.

The markets with the declines in speculator bets this week were MSCI EAFE-Mini (-11,282 contracts) with the VIX (-8,940 contracts), the Russell-Mini (-4,833 contracts), the Nasdaq-Mini (-2,612 contracts), the S&P500-Mini (-2,105 contracts) and the DowJones-Mini (-1,724 contracts) also registering lower bets on the week.

Data Snapshot of Stock Market Traders | Columns Legend

Sep-05-2023	OI	OI-Index	Spec-Net	Spec-Index	Com-Net	COM-Index	Smalls-Net	Smalls-Index
S&P500-Mini	2,259,160	26	-144,211	43	123,567	57	20,644	46
Nikkei 225	24,684	40	-142	68	-1,199	29	1,341	45
Nasdaq-Mini	274,701	47	13,550	85	-5,696	19	-7,854	39
DowJones-Mini	93,933	53	-11,724	41	10,223	55	1,501	51
VIX	402,061	73	-42,726	88	44,265	9	-1,539	88
Nikkei 225 Yen	66,338	66	5,860	52	14,723	51	-20,583	40

Strength Scores led by VIX & Nasdaq-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 VIX (88 percent) and the Nasdaq-Mini (85 percent) lead the stock markets this week. The Nikkei 225 (68 percent) comes in as the next highest in the weekly strength scores.

On the downside, the MSCI EAFE-Mini (0 percent) comes in at the lowest strength level currently and is in Extreme-Bearish territory (below 20 percent). The next lowest strength score is the Russell-Mini (29 percent).

Strength Statistics:
VIX (87.8 percent) vs VIX previous week (94.3 percent)
S&P500-Mini (43.2 percent) vs S&P500-Mini previous week (43.6 percent)
DowJones-Mini (40.7 percent) vs DowJones-Mini previous week (45.6 percent)
Nasdaq-Mini (85.0 percent) vs Nasdaq-Mini previous week (86.5 percent)
Russell2000-Mini (28.9 percent) vs Russell2000-Mini previous week (31.8 percent)
Nikkei USD (68.2 percent) vs Nikkei USD previous week (64.3 percent)
EAFE-Mini (0.0 percent) vs EAFE-Mini previous week (13.5 percent)

Nikkei 225 & Nasdaq-Mini top the 6-Week Strength Trends

COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that the Nikkei 225 (16 percent) leads the past six weeks trends for the stock markets. The Nasdaq-Mini (14 percent) and the S&P500-Mini (13 percent) are the next highest positive movers in the latest trends data.

The DowJones-Mini (-37 percent) leads the downside trend scores currently with the EAFE-Mini (-8.5 percent) coming in as the next market with lower trend scores.

Strength Trend Statistics:
VIX (-0.4 percent) vs VIX previous week (4.7 percent)
S&P500-Mini (13.2 percent) vs S&P500-Mini previous week (18.1 percent)
DowJones-Mini (-37.2 percent) vs DowJones-Mini previous week (-8.1 percent)
Nasdaq-Mini (13.9 percent) vs Nasdaq-Mini previous week (8.6 percent)
Russell2000-Mini (-1.8 percent) vs Russell2000-Mini previous week (-0.7 percent)
Nikkei USD (16.0 percent) vs Nikkei USD previous week (13.9 percent)
EAFE-Mini (-8.5 percent) vs EAFE-Mini previous week (-7.1 percent)

Individual Stock Market Charts:

VIX Volatility Futures:

The VIX Volatility large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -42,726 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -8,940 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -33,786 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 87.8 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 9.1 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 88.0 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

VIX Volatility Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	25.3	45.8	6.6
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	36.0	34.8	7.0
– Net Position:	-42,726	44,265	-1,539
– Gross Longs:	101,854	184,112	26,430
– Gross Shorts:	144,580	139,847	27,969
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.7 to 1	1.3 to 1	0.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	87.8	9.1	88.0
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish-Extreme	Bearish-Extreme	Bullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-0.4	-1.5	13.7

S&P500 Mini Futures:

The S&P500 Mini large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -144,211 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -2,105 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -142,106 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 43.2 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 56.9 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 45.8 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

S&P500 Mini Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	10.9	75.0	11.4
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	17.2	69.5	10.5
– Net Position:	-144,211	123,567	20,644
– Gross Longs:	245,378	1,693,540	256,870
– Gross Shorts:	389,589	1,569,973	236,226
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.6 to 1	1.1 to 1	1.1 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	43.2	56.9	45.8
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish	Bullish	Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	13.2	-12.7	1.4

Dow Jones Mini Futures:

The Dow Jones Mini large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -11,724 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -1,724 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -10,000 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bearish with a score of 40.7 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 54.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 51.2 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

Dow Jones Mini Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	23.7	57.3	15.5
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	36.2	46.5	13.9
– Net Position:	-11,724	10,223	1,501
– Gross Longs:	22,245	53,865	14,590
– Gross Shorts:	33,969	43,642	13,089
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.7 to 1	1.2 to 1	1.1 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	40.7	54.6	51.2
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish	Bullish	Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-37.2	20.3	15.4

Nasdaq Mini Futures:

The Nasdaq Mini large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of 13,550 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decline of -2,612 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 16,162 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 85.0 percent. The commercials are Bearish-Extreme with a score of 19.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 38.7 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

Nasdaq Mini Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	27.0	56.2	13.8
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	22.0	58.3	16.7
– Net Position:	13,550	-5,696	-7,854
– Gross Longs:	74,040	154,346	38,035
– Gross Shorts:	60,490	160,042	45,889
– Long to Short Ratio:	1.2 to 1	1.0 to 1	0.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	85.0	19.0	38.7
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish-Extreme	Bearish-Extreme	Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	13.9	-8.6	-20.3

Russell 2000 Mini Futures:

The Russell 2000 Mini large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -71,711 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lowering of -4,833 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -66,878 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 28.9 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 70.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 29.4 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Weak Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

Russell 2000 Mini Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	9.9	83.3	5.2
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	23.9	69.5	5.1
– Net Position:	-71,711	70,806	905
– Gross Longs:	50,897	426,554	26,844
– Gross Shorts:	122,608	355,748	25,939
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.4 to 1	1.2 to 1	1.0 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	28.9	70.2	29.4
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish	Bullish	Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-1.8	4.0	-13.1

Nikkei Stock Average (USD) Futures:

The Nikkei Stock Average (USD) large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -142 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lift of 591 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -733 net contracts.

This week’s current strength score (the trader positioning range over the past three years, measured from 0 to 100) shows the speculators are currently Bullish with a score of 68.2 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 28.6 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 45.2 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

Nikkei Stock Average Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	16.3	62.9	18.0
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	16.8	67.8	12.6
– Net Position:	-142	-1,199	1,341
– Gross Longs:	4,015	15,537	4,453
– Gross Shorts:	4,157	16,736	3,112
– Long to Short Ratio:	1.0 to 1	0.9 to 1	1.4 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	68.2	28.6	45.2
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish	Bearish	Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	16.0	-18.3	6.8

MSCI EAFE Mini Futures:

The MSCI EAFE Mini large speculator standing this week recorded a net position of -38,079 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -11,282 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -26,797 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 with a score of 35.7 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

MSCI EAFE Mini Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	6.1	90.7	2.5
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	15.9	81.9	1.5
– Net Position:	-38,079	34,346	3,733
– Gross Longs:	23,910	354,137	9,687
– Gross Shorts:	61,989	319,791	5,954
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.4 to 1	1.1 to 1	1.6 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	0.0	100.0	35.7
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish-Extreme	Bullish-Extreme	Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-8.5	13.0	-18.4

Article By InvestMacro – Receive our weekly COT Newsletter

COT Updates Financial News Stock Market News

09 Sep

Soft Commodities Charts: Speculator bets led by Sugar & Cotton

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 September 5th 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 Sugar & Cotton

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

Leading the gains for the softs markets was Sugar (26,991 contracts) with Cotton (11,560 contracts), Wheat (3,847 contracts), Cocoa (2,999 contracts) and Lean Hogs (1,659 contracts) also showing positive weeks.

The markets with the declines in speculator bets this week were Coffee (-18,522 contracts) with Corn (-9,819 contracts), Soybean Meal (-6,481 contracts), Soybeans (-4,833 contracts), Soybean Oil (-619 contracts) and Live Cattle (-976 contracts) also registering lower bets on the week.

Data Snapshot of Commodity Market Traders | Columns Legend

Sep-05-2023	OI	OI-Index	Spec-Net	Spec-Index	Com-Net	COM-Index	Smalls-Net	Smalls-Index
WTI Crude	1,703,130	27	299,322	40	-308,997	67	9,675	0
Gold	438,672	8	138,006	38	-158,239	63	20,233	31
Silver	128,279	17	26,804	56	-37,708	48	10,904	27
Copper	193,597	37	-6,770	25	4,659	75	2,111	32
Palladium	17,644	80	-11,021	0	10,888	100	133	50
Platinum	68,721	53	14,602	49	-19,001	54	4,399	27
Natural Gas	1,169,725	43	-118,279	25	90,716	76	27,563	45
Brent	129,417	7	-44,682	24	44,226	83	456	15
Heating Oil	319,491	44	38,737	96	-67,126	0	28,389	97
Soybeans	716,200	31	87,329	23	-68,843	73	-18,486	60
Corn	1,229,700	5	-45,632	3	79,965	94	-34,333	84
Coffee	180,118	3	8,495	36	-8,052	68	-443	7
Sugar	966,992	63	235,421	74	-289,805	21	54,384	73
Wheat	376,770	53	-46,410	34	44,160	64	2,250	78

Strength Scores led by Cocoa & Sugar

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 Cocoa (100 percent) and Sugar (74 percent) lead the softs markets this week. Live Cattle (72 percent), Soybean Meal (53 percent) and Soybean Oil (51 percent) come in as the next highest in the weekly strength scores.

On the downside, Corn (3 percent) and Soybeans (23 percent) come in at the lowest strength levels currently and are in Extreme-Bearish territory (below 20 percent). The next lowest strength scores are the Lean Hogs (25 percent) and the Wheat (34 percent).

Strength Statistics:
Corn (2.7 percent) vs Corn previous week (4.3 percent)
Sugar (74.1 percent) vs Sugar previous week (64.6 percent)
Coffee (36.1 percent) vs Coffee previous week (61.8 percent)
Soybeans (23.5 percent) vs Soybeans previous week (25.4 percent)
Soybean Oil (50.6 percent) vs Soybean Oil previous week (50.9 percent)
Soybean Meal (53.1 percent) vs Soybean Meal previous week (56.7 percent)
Live Cattle (72.2 percent) vs Live Cattle previous week (73.3 percent)
Lean Hogs (24.6 percent) vs Lean Hogs previous week (23.3 percent)
Cotton (51.2 percent) vs Cotton previous week (42.5 percent)
Cocoa (100.0 percent) vs Cocoa previous week (96.9 percent)
Wheat (33.8 percent) vs Wheat previous week (31.1 percent)

Cotton & Cocoa top the 6-Week Strength Trends

COT Strength Score Trends (or move index, calculates the 6-week changes in strength scores) showed that Cotton (14 percent) and Cocoa (9 percent) lead the past six weeks trends for soft commodities. Sugar (6 percent), Soybean Oil (1 percent) and Lean Hogs (-3 percent) are the next highest positive movers in the latest trends data.

Coffee (-23 percent) leads the downside trend scores currently with Corn (-19 percent), Soybeans (-19 percent) and Wheat (-18 percent) following next with lower trend scores.

Strength Trend Statistics:
Corn (-19.0 percent) vs Corn previous week (-9.1 percent)
Sugar (5.5 percent) vs Sugar previous week (4.3 percent)
Coffee (-23.1 percent) vs Coffee previous week (-0.0 percent)
Soybeans (-18.7 percent) vs Soybeans previous week (-5.9 percent)
Soybean Oil (1.1 percent) vs Soybean Oil previous week (8.7 percent)
Soybean Meal (-7.6 percent) vs Soybean Meal previous week (1.1 percent)
Live Cattle (-9.5 percent) vs Live Cattle previous week (-18.7 percent)
Lean Hogs (-2.6 percent) vs Lean Hogs previous week (-3.1 percent)
Cotton (13.9 percent) vs Cotton previous week (19.8 percent)
Cocoa (8.7 percent) vs Cocoa previous week (7.0 percent)
Wheat (-18.4 percent) vs Wheat previous week (-8.2 percent)

Individual Soft Commodities Markets:

CORN Futures:

The CORN large speculator standing this week reached a net position of -45,632 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly fall of -9,819 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -35,813 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 Bearish-Extreme with a score of 2.7 percent. The commercials are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 94.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish-Extreme with a score of 83.6 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

CORN Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	22.6	48.9	10.2
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	26.3	42.4	13.0
– Net Position:	-45,632	79,965	-34,333
– Gross Longs:	278,322	601,098	125,742
– Gross Shorts:	323,954	521,133	160,075
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.9 to 1	1.2 to 1	0.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	2.7	94.2	83.6
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish-Extreme	Bullish-Extreme	Bullish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-19.0	14.0	52.2

SUGAR Futures:

The SUGAR large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 235,421 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly gain of 26,991 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 208,430 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 Bullish with a score of 74.1 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 21.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 73.5 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

SUGAR Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	32.8	42.9	10.2
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	8.5	72.9	4.6
– Net Position:	235,421	-289,805	54,384
– Gross Longs:	317,572	415,119	98,808
– Gross Shorts:	82,151	704,924	44,424
– Long to Short Ratio:	3.9 to 1	0.6 to 1	2.2 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	74.1	21.2	73.5
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish	Bearish	Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	5.5	-11.7	30.0

COFFEE Futures:

The COFFEE large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 8,495 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly reduction of -18,522 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 33,494 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 36.1 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 7.3 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

COFFEE Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	23.4	47.0	3.7
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	18.7	51.4	3.9
– Net Position:	8,495	-8,052	-443
– Gross Longs:	42,190	84,606	6,662
– Gross Shorts:	33,695	92,658	7,105
– Long to Short Ratio:	1.3 to 1	0.9 to 1	0.9 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	36.1	67.9	7.3
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish	Bullish	Bearish-Extreme
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-23.1	24.0	-19.8

SOYBEANS Futures:

The SOYBEANS large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 87,329 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -4,833 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 92,162 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 23.5 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 73.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 59.5 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

SOYBEANS Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	22.5	51.4	6.8
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	10.4	61.0	9.4
– Net Position:	87,329	-68,843	-18,486
– Gross Longs:	161,468	368,024	48,992
– Gross Shorts:	74,139	436,867	67,478
– Long to Short Ratio:	2.2 to 1	0.8 to 1	0.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	23.5	73.0	59.5
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish	Bullish	Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-18.7	16.6	-0.9

SOYBEAN OIL Futures:

The SOYBEAN OIL large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 55,935 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly decrease of -619 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 56,554 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 Bullish with a score of 50.6 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 48.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 52.9 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

SOYBEAN OIL Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	23.3	50.6	7.5
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	11.0	65.2	5.2
– Net Position:	55,935	-66,483	10,548
– Gross Longs:	105,904	229,775	34,049
– Gross Shorts:	49,969	296,258	23,501
– Long to Short Ratio:	2.1 to 1	0.8 to 1	1.4 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	50.6	48.2	52.9
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish	Bearish	Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	1.1	-0.1	-6.1

SOYBEAN MEAL Futures:

The SOYBEAN MEAL large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 92,750 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly fall of -6,481 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 99,231 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 53.1 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 47.1 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 42.7 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Weak Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: New Buy – Long Position.

SOYBEAN MEAL Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	24.1	39.1	9.9
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	3.8	63.8	5.6
– Net Position:	92,750	-112,190	19,440
– Gross Longs:	109,916	178,230	44,988
– Gross Shorts:	17,166	290,420	25,548
– Long to Short Ratio:	6.4 to 1	0.6 to 1	1.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	53.1	47.1	42.7
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish	Bearish	Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-7.6	9.1	-11.4

LIVE CATTLE Futures:

The LIVE CATTLE large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 86,489 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly lowering of -976 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 87,465 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 72.2 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 32.7 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

LIVE CATTLE Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	42.6	28.5	9.1
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	15.2	52.7	12.3
– Net Position:	86,489	-76,291	-10,198
– Gross Longs:	134,205	89,585	28,644
– Gross Shorts:	47,716	165,876	38,842
– Long to Short Ratio:	2.8 to 1	0.5 to 1	0.7 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	72.2	29.5	32.7
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish	Bearish	Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-9.5	7.1	16.6

LEAN HOGS Futures:

The LEAN HOGS large speculator standing this week reached a net position of -6,132 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly boost of 1,659 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -7,791 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 24.6 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 79.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 67.5 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Weak Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

LEAN HOGS Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	31.3	39.4	9.4
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	34.4	34.7	11.1
– Net Position:	-6,132	9,659	-3,527
– Gross Longs:	63,716	80,133	19,036
– Gross Shorts:	69,848	70,474	22,563
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.9 to 1	1.1 to 1	0.8 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	24.6	79.0	67.5
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish	Bullish	Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-2.6	7.3	-22.8

COTTON Futures:

The COTTON large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 56,410 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly advance of 11,560 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 44,850 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 51.2 percent. The commercials are Bearish with a score of 45.1 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 78.9 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

COTTON Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	39.8	41.2	8.0
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	15.2	70.4	3.5
– Net Position:	56,410	-66,786	10,376
– Gross Longs:	91,093	94,304	18,327
– Gross Shorts:	34,683	161,090	7,951
– Long to Short Ratio:	2.6 to 1	0.6 to 1	2.3 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	51.2	45.1	78.9
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish	Bearish	Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	13.9	-13.7	10.4

COCOA Futures:

The COCOA large speculator standing this week reached a net position of 86,220 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly advance of 2,999 contracts from the previous week which had a total of 83,221 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 0.0 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bearish with a score of 36.5 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Uptrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Long Position.

COCOA Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	47.5	25.9	4.5
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	17.7	57.0	3.2
– Net Position:	86,220	-90,212	3,992
– Gross Longs:	137,720	75,136	13,139
– Gross Shorts:	51,500	165,348	9,147
– Long to Short Ratio:	2.7 to 1	0.5 to 1	1.4 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	100.0	0.0	36.5
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bullish-Extreme	Bearish-Extreme	Bearish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	8.7	-9.1	5.5

WHEAT Futures:

The WHEAT large speculator standing this week reached a net position of -46,410 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday. This was a weekly rise of 3,847 contracts from the previous week which had a total of -50,257 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 33.8 percent. The commercials are Bullish with a score of 64.2 percent and the small traders (not shown in chart) are Bullish with a score of 78.3 percent.

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Our weekly trend-following model classifies the current market price position as: Strong Downtrend. The current action for the model is considered to be: Hold – Maintain Short Position.

WHEAT Futures Statistics	SPECULATORS	COMMERCIALS	SMALL TRADERS
– Percent of Open Interest Longs:	29.2	34.7	9.9
– Percent of Open Interest Shorts:	41.5	22.9	9.3
– Net Position:	-46,410	44,160	2,250
– Gross Longs:	109,981	130,578	37,412
– Gross Shorts:	156,391	86,418	35,162
– Long to Short Ratio:	0.7 to 1	1.5 to 1	1.1 to 1
NET POSITION TREND:
– Strength Index Score (3 Year Range Pct):	33.8	64.2	78.3
– Strength Index Reading (3 Year Range):	Bearish	Bullish	Bullish
NET POSITION MOVEMENT INDEX:
– 6-Week Change in Strength Index:	-18.4	13.4	35.4

Article By InvestMacro – Receive our weekly COT Newsletter

COT Updates Financial News Soft Commodities

08 Sep

FTC Settles Suit, Potentially Averting Further Hurdles

Source: McAlinden Research (9/6/23)

McAlinden Research shares a deep dive into a market driver with alpha-generating potential.

Last week, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) suspended its legal challenge to Amgen Inc. (AMGN:NASDAQ)’s proposed acquisition of Horizon Therapeutics Plc (HZNP:NASDAQ), 2022’s largest deal announcement in the biopharma space. The FTC and Amgen-Horizon then agreed to settle on Friday, clearing the way for the $27.8 billion purchase to close sometime in the fourth quarter.

The FTC notes that, as part of the settlement, attorneys general from six states — California, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Washington, and Wisconsin — will also dismiss a related federal court preliminary injunction action.

There was significant doubt cast upon the FTC’s case not long after the commission originally filed its suit in May, given its employment of a novel theory that Amgen could eventually bundle its drugs with those it is acquiring from Horizon in negotiations with insurers — therefore entrenching Horizon products’ premiere placement in the market and choking out potential competitors that might be cheaper or more effective. Horizon currently sells two marketed products, Tepezza (teprotumumab) for thyroid eye disease and Krystexxa (pegloticase), a chronic refractory gout treatment.

Since Amgen was quick to agree that they would not bundle their products with Horizon’s, a settlement was the natural conclusion. Further conditions of the agreement between the FTC and the two firms stipulate Amgen will not introduce discount or rebate schemes on their own products that would influence the sale or positioning of Horizon’s drugs.

The FTC, which has become more aggressive toward mega-mergers across multiple industries, presented the Amgen-Horizon settlement as a win, but it seems more likely that an ongoing wave of M&A activity among pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms will be bolstered by the sudden conclusion of the suit.

GlobalData’s Deals Database, cited by Pharmaceutical Technology, notes that there were 479 pharma M&A deals announced in Q2 2023, increasing by 18% QoQ in Q2 and 151% YoY. The total value of these deals was $51 billion, decreasing by -30% in Q2, compared with the previous quarter’s total of $72.5 billion. Still, Q2’s pharma industry M&A deal value rose by 77% YoY.

Though fewer deals were signed in the first quarter than in the second, the size of Q1’s deal value was boosted by Pfizer Inc.’s announcement that they would be acquiring massive biotech firm Seagen Inc. in biopharma’s largest deal in almost four years’ time. Pfizer’s offer of $229 per share in cash, a 33% premium on Seagen’s share price at the close preceding the deal becoming public, pushed the total value of the deal to $43 billion.

As MRP has previously noted, Pfizer executives have been among a consortium of biopharma heads that have voiced their desire to increase dealmaking with outside companies. Pfizer has set a goal of adding $25 billion in revenue by 2030 from business development moves, including acquisitions. Those could help the company offset an estimated drop of roughly $17 billion in sales from upcoming patent expirations. Bloomberg notes that Pfizer thinks that sales of Seagen’s four FDA-approved oncology products will exceed $10 billion, about $2 billion more than analysts’ estimates.

The smooth closure of the Pfizer-Seagen tie-up is still beholden to regulators at the FTC, but the recent news on the Amgen-Horizon deal is likely to invigorate confidence among investors that this deal will ultimately receive approval as well.

As of July, the FTC requested more information from Pfizer and Seagan in their review of the deal. Fierce Pharma writes that second requests from the FTC occur in roughly 25% of M&A deals, citing MEDACorp data. The regulator challenges such a transaction 5% — 10% of the time.

Charts

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Financial News Stock Market News

08 Sep

Trade relations between the US and China are escalating again. Natural gas rises as inventories fall

By JustMarkets

As of Thursday’s stock market close, the Dow Jones Index (US30) increased by 0.17%, while the S&P 500 Index (US500) lost 0.32%. The NASDAQ Technology Index (US100) closed negative by 0.89% yesterday. The broader market was under pressure yesterday due to weakness in technology stocks. Apple (AAPL) stock prices fell again by more than 3% yesterday amid a Wall Street Journal report that China plans to extend its iPhone ban to government agencies and state-owned companies. Shares of Nvidia (NVDA) fell more than 2%, complementing Wednesday’s 2% drop after Research Affiliates said the stock is “a textbook story of a Big Market Delusion,” and with the stock trading at 110 times earnings, the stock is off the charts.

Stocks were also pressured by news that weekly US jobless claims unexpectedly fell to a 7-month low, indicating the strength of the labor market and could prompt the Fed to raise interest rates for longer.

Equity markets in Europe were mostly down on Thursday. Germany’s DAX (DE40) decreased by 0.14%, France’s CAC 40 (FR40) closed just above the open, Spain’s IBEX 35 (ES35) was 0.07% cheaper, and the UK’s FTSE 100 (UK100) closed positive by 0.21%.

Eurozone Q2 GDP was revised downward to 0.1% Q/Q and 0.5% Y/Y from the previously announced 0.3% Q/Q and 0.6% Y/Y. German industrial production for July fell by 0.8% m/m, weaker than expectations of 0.4% y/y. The Eurozone economy is showing resilience but with signs of an early slowdown.

Crude oil prices moved lower yesterday amid a stronger dollar and concerns over energy demand. The dollar index rose to a nearly 6-month high on Thursday, and global economic news was mostly weaker than expected, suggesting weaker energy demand.

Natural gas prices bounced off a two-week low on Thursday and rose moderately on lower weekly supplies after EIA natural gas inventories rose by 33 bcf, below expectations of 41 bcf. As of September 5, European natural gas storage inventories were 92% full, well above the 5-year seasonal average of 82% for this time of year. The US natural gas inventories as of September 1 were 7.6% above the 5-year seasonal average. Gas was also boosted by news from Australia. Workers at an Australian LNG plant are threatening two weeks of 24-hour shutdowns at two major export plants starting September 14 unless an agreement is reached. Inspired Plc predicted that Asian LNG buyers are “likely to raise LNG import prices” to replace Australian volumes in the event of a workers’ strike. Australia is the world’s third-largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), accounting for 10% of global supply.

Asian markets were mostly down yesterday. Japan’s Nikkei 225 (JP225) fell by 0.75%, China’s FTSE China A50 (CHA50) fell by 1.22%, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng (HK50) ended the day down by 1.34%, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 (AU200) ended Thursday negative by 1.19%. Most Asian stocks continued to decline on Friday as weak economic data from Japan added to concerns about slowing growth, while the prospect of higher US interest rates and deteriorating Sino-US relations weighed on technology stocks.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index was the worst-performing index in Asia, down by 1%, after data showed Japan’s economy grew by 1.2% in the second quarter, less than the originally estimated 1.5%. The weak figures suggest that ongoing stimulus measures from the Bank of Japan may not be supporting growth as much as originally expected, which dampened investor sentiment toward local equities.

Asian tech stocks have been hit by calls from US lawmakers for a complete ban on technology exports to China after two companies, namely Huawei and Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp, allegedly violated US trade restrictions. The move, coupled with Beijing’s recent restrictions on Apple, has heightened fears of deteriorating trade ties between the world’s largest economies, which could trigger a renewed trade war.

S&P 500 (F)(US500) 4,451.14 −14.34 (−0.32%)

Dow Jones (US30) 34,500.73 +57.54 (+0.17%)

DAX (DE40) 15,718.66 −22.71 (−0.14%)

FTSE 100 (UK100) 7,441.72 +15.58 (+0.21%)

USD Index 105.04 +0.18 (+0.17%)

Important events for today:

– Japan GDP (q/q) at 02:50 (GMT+3);
– Canada Unemployment Rate (m/m) at 15:30 (GMT+3);
– US FOMC Member Barr Speaks (m/m) at 16:00 (GMT+3).

By JustMarkets

Economics & Fundamentals Financial News

07 Sep

RoboForex Wins “Best Copy Trading Platform” and “Best Multi-Asset Trading Platform” Titles at the 2023 Global Brands Magazine Awards

RoboForex, a leading provider of brokerage services, is delighted to announce that it has been honoured with two prestigious awards at the 2023 Global Brands Magazine Awards: “Best Copy Trading Platform” and “Best Multi Asset Trading Platform.”

Recognition for Excellence in Copy Trading

RoboForex’s proprietary CopyFX system has not only set industry standards but also redefined them. The recognition we have received highlights CopyFX’s multifaceted capabilities: seamless integration with top-tier trading platforms, robust handling of high-volume transactions, unmatched security protocols, and exceptional network stability.

Beyond its technical merits, CopyFX adds a social dimension to trading. Whether you’re an individual trader or a long-term RoboForex client, you can become a partner and guide newcomers to top trading strategies, earning a share of the trader’s commission in return. The system’s adaptable framework allows users to take on multiple roles – as a trader, investor, or partner – offering unprecedented opportunities to diversify trading approaches, engage with the community, and discover new revenue streams.

A Cutting-Edge Multi-Asset Trading Experience with R StocksTrader

The “Best Multi-Asset Trading Platform” award celebrates the sophisticated architecture of the R StocksTrader platform. This web-based terminal offers traders an unparalleled variety of asset classes, encompassing Stocks, Indices, Oil, Metals, Currency pairs, and ETFs – altogether featuring over 12,000 distinct financial instruments for both trading and investment.

R StocksTrader is enriched by an array of advanced trading tools and a user-friendly interface. Additionally, it boasts a built-in strategy constructor, enabling traders to effortlessly design and deploy their own automated trading systems.

About Global Brands Magazine Awards

The Global Brands Magazine Awards, held annually, aim to recognise excellence in performance and reward companies across various sectors. These awards honour companies for their exceptional achievements in Finance, Education, Hospitality, Lifestyle, Automobiles, and Technology.

About RoboForex

RoboForex is a brokerage company that offers comprehensive brokerage services. The company provides traders in the financial markets with access to its proprietary trading platforms. RoboForex Ltd operates under brokerage licence FSC 000138/437. View more detailed information about the Company’s products and activities on the official website roboforex.com.

“Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69.88% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.”

Finance Press Release Financial News

Risk Disclosure: Foreign Currency trading and trading on margin carries a high level of risk and can result in loss of part or all of your investment. Due to the level of risk and market volatility, Foreign Currency trading may not be suitable for all investors and you should not invest money you cannot afford to lose. Before deciding to invest in the foreign currency exchange market you should carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite. You should be aware of all the risks associated with foreign currency exchange trading, and seek advice from an independent financial advisor should you have any doubts.

All information and opinions on this website are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute investment advice.

Archive for Financial News – Page 191

This could be an intense week for gold and here are 3 reasons why:

US August CPI report

The August US Consumer Price Index (CPI) report published on Wednesday, September 13 will act as a critical piece of information that determines whether the Fed will keep rates higher for longer.

It is worth noting that traders are currently pricing in a 7% probability of a 25-basis point hike this month, with this jumping to 44% by November, according to Fed funds futures.

US data dump

Technical forces

Gold could be in the process of a technical rebound or pullback with both technical and fundamental forces determining where prices conclude the week.

“The lines in the chart will turn up, and no policy will stop it”

By Elliott Wave International

Weekly Speculator Changes led by Fed Funds & 10-Year Bonds

Strength Scores led by SOFR 3-Months & Fed Funds

Ultra Treasury Bonds & SOFR 3-Months top the 6-Week Strength Trends

Secured Overnight Financing Rate (3-Month) Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

30-Day Federal Funds Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

2-Year Treasury Note Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

5-Year Treasury Note Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

10-Year Treasury Note Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Ultra 10-Year Notes Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

US Treasury Bonds Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Ultra US Treasury Bonds Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Weekly Speculator Changes led by Copper & Gold

Strength Scores led by Steel & Silver

Platinum & Copper top the 6-Week Strength Trends

Individual Markets:

Gold Comex Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Silver Comex Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Copper Grade #1 Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Platinum Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Palladium Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Steel Futures Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

Weekly Speculator Changes led by Nikkei 225

Strength Scores led by VIX & Nasdaq-Mini

Nikkei 225 & Nasdaq-Mini top the 6-Week Strength Trends

Individual Stock Market Charts:

VIX Volatility Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Downtrend

S&P500 Mini Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

Dow Jones Mini Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

Nasdaq Mini Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

Russell 2000 Mini Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

Nikkei Stock Average (USD) Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend

MSCI EAFE Mini Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

Weekly Speculator Changes led by Sugar & Cotton

Strength Scores led by Cocoa & Sugar

Cotton & Cocoa top the 6-Week Strength Trends

Individual Soft Commodities Markets:

CORN Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Downtrend

SUGAR Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Strong Uptrend

COFFEE Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

SOYBEANS Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

SOYBEAN OIL Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Uptrend

SOYBEAN MEAL Futures:

Price Trend-Following Model: Weak Uptrend

LIVE CATTLE Futures: