67.90 % of retail investors lose their capital when trading CFDs with this provider.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 67.90 % of retail investors lose their capital 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.

Positions of large speculators according to the COT report as at 27/8/2021


Total net speculator positions in the USD index rose by 1,200 contracts last week. This change is the result of an increase in long positions by 1,200 contracts.

The increase in total net speculator positions occurred in the Canadian dollar last week.

Decrease in total net positions occurred in the euro, the Australian dollar, the New Zealand dollar, the Swiss franc, the British pound and the Japanese yen.

Last week's Jackson Hole symposium saw the Fed chief mentioning that the Fed's priority is to make sure a stable labour market and to control inflation.

While economic indicators suggest that the values of both criteria are approaching target levels, Powell cited some concerns about the impact of the Delta virus variance. Powell confirmed that a tapering of government bonds could begin this year. Regarding rate hikes, the Fed did not give any specific decision on that yet. Thus, the Fed will not rush to raise the interest rates for the time being. The result of this relatively dovish speech was a weakening of the US dollar against all major currencies and a strengthening of gold and US equities.

This risk on sentiment could continue into Friday's US jobs report. Last month's NFP report significantly beat expectations and sparked a strong rise in the US Dollar. If the employment data for August, which are to be presented on Sep 3, 2021, significantly exceeds expectations again and the unemployment rate falls below 5%, the Fed will have further arguments to debate on interest rate hikes, which might trigger a strengthening of the US Dollar.
 

According to the COT report, large speculators believe in a strengthening US dollar. One has to take into account the fact that the COT data that are presented on Friday is pointing to the situation on Tuesday, therefore before the Jackson Hole speech.

The positions of speculators in individual currencies

The total net positions of large speculators are shown in Table 1: If the value is positive then the large speculators are net long. If the value is negative, the large speculators are net short.

 

27/8/2021

20/8/2021

13/8/2021

6/8/2021

30/7/2021

23/7/2021

USD index

20,400

19,200

19 300

18,900

16,500

12,200

EUR

24,600

57,600

33 900

38,000

38,100

45,800

GBP

-16,700

4,700

7 100

-100

-5,700

-3,500

AUD

-56,600

-50,400

-49 300

-41,300

-39,300

-35,700

NZD

-400

-200

-1 000

-300

1,400

3,000

CAD

5,900

2,700

6 500

7,500

5,400

12,900

CHF

4,100

5,500

9 700

7,500

8,500

8,000

JPY

-66,700

-63,200

-60,700

-55,200

-59,900

-55,700

Table 1: Total net positions of large speculators

 

Notes:

Large speculators are traders who trade large volumes of futures contracts, which, if the set limits are met, must be reported to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Typically, this includes traders such as funds or large banks. These traders mostly focus on trading long-term trends and their goal is to make money on speculation with the instrument.

The total net positions of large speculators are the difference between the number of long contracts and the number of short contracts of large speculators. Positive value shows that large speculators are net long. Negative value shows that large speculators are net short. The data is published every Friday and is delayed because it shows the status on Tuesday of the week.

The total net positions of large speculators show the sentiment this group has in the market. A positive value of the total net positions of speculators indicates bullish sentiment, a negative value of total net positions indicates bearish sentiment.

When interpreting charts and values, it is important to follow the overall trend of total net positions. The turning points are also very important, i.e. the moments when the total net positions go from a positive value to a negative one and vice versa. Important are also extreme values of total net positions as they often serve as signals of a trend reversal.

Sentiment according to the reported positions of large players in futures markets is not immediately reflected in the movement of currency pairs. Therefore, information on sentiment is more likely to be used by traders who take longer trades and are willing to hold their positions for several weeks or even months.

Detailed analysis of selected currencies

Explanations:
 

Purple line and histogram in the chart window: this is information on the total net position of large speculators. This information shows the strength and sentiment of an ongoing trend.

Green line in the indicator window: these are the bullish positions of large speculators.

Red line in the indicator window: indicates the bearish positions of large speculators.

If there is a green line above the red line in the indicator window, then it means that the overall net positions are positive, i.e. that bullish sentiment prevails. If, on the other hand, the green line is below the red line, then bearish sentiment prevails and the overall net positions of the big speculators are negative.

Information on the positions of so-called hedgers is not shown in the chart, due to the fact that their main goal is not speculation, but hedging. Therefore, this group usually takes the opposite positions than the large speculators. For this reason, the positions of hedgers are inversely correlated with the movement of the price of the underlying asset. However, this inverse correlation shows the ongoing trend less clearly than the position of large speculators.

Charts are made with the use of www.tradingview.com.
 

Euro

Date

Weekly change in open interest

Weekly change in total net positions of speculators

Weekly change in total long positions of speculators

Weekly change in total short positions of speculators

Sentiment

27/8/2021 3,800 -33,000 -39,400 -6,400 Weakening bullish
20/8/2021 -7,300 23,700 20,700 -3,000 Bullish
13/8/2021 27,600 -4,100 13,800 17,900 Weakening bullish
 
COT-16-7-obr-1-1.png
Figure 1: The euro and COT positions of large speculators on a weekly chart


Total net speculator positions fell by 33,000 contracts last week. This change is due to a decrease in long positions by 39,400 contracts and a decrease in short positions by 6,400 contracts.

The price of the euro appreciated last week. This was mainly due to the weakening of the dollar after the Fed comments.

Long-term resistance: 1.1870 - 1.1900

Long-term support: 1.1580 - 1.1620
 

We can take the level 1.17 as a support too as this is the level where the price bounced upwards last week.

The British pound

Date

Weekly change in open interest

Weekly change in total net positions of speculators

Weekly change in total long positions of speculators

Weekly change in total short positions of speculators

Sentiment

27/8/2021 18,000 -21,400 -2,400 19,000 Bearish
20/8/2021 -500 -2,400 -2,800 -400

Weakening bullish

13/8/2021 2,000 7,200 1,600 -5,600 Bullish

 

COT-16-7-obr-2-1.png
Figure 2: The GBP and COT positions of large speculators on a weekly chart


Last week, the total net positions of speculators fell by 21,400 contracts. The change in total net positions over the past week is the result of a decrease in long positions by 2,400 and an increase in short positions by 19,000 contracts.

The pound strengthened against the US dollar last week as it bounced off support levels. The rise was supported by the Fed's statement.

Long-term resistance: 1.3900-1.3980

Long-term support: 1.3370-1.3620
 

The Australian dollar

Date

Weekly change in open interest

Weekly change in total net positions of speculators

Weekly change in total long positions of speculators

Weekly change in total short positions of speculators

Sentiment

27.8.2021 10,700 -6,200 3,200 3,000 Bearish
20/8/2021 15,200 -1,100 6,800 7,900 Bearish
13/8/2021 1,900 -8,000 -400 7,600 Bearish
 
COT-16-7-obr-3-1.png
Figure 3: The AUD and COT positions of large speculators on a weekly chart


The increase in bearish sentiment on the Australian dollar continued last week with speculators' overall net positions falling by 6,200 contracts. This change is due to a decrease in long positions of 3,200 and an increase in short positions of 3,000 contracts.

The lockdown in Australia continues to have a negative effect on the Australian dollar. However, the risk on sentiment supported by the Fed statement is a boost that might also support sentiment on the Australian Dollar.

Long-term resistance: 0.7360-0.7400

Další dlouhodobý support: 0.6980-0.7020
 

The New Zealand dollar

 

Date

Weekly change in open interest

Weekly change in total net positions of speculators

Weekly change in total long positions of speculators

Weekly change in total short positions of speculators

Sentiment

27/8/2021 2,200 -200 500 700 Bearish
20/8/2021 -2,500 800 -600 -1,400

Weakening bearish

13/8/2021 3,900 -700 300 1000 Bearish

COT-16-7-obr-4-1.png
Figure 4: The NZD and the position of large speculators on a weekly chart


Last week, total net positions fell by 200 contracts, the result of a 500 contract increase in long positions and a 700 contract increase in short positions.

The New Zealand dollar bounced off a support band last week and strengthened significantly.

Resistance: 0.7030-0.7080

Long term support: 0.6760-0.6800

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Your capital is at risk.
67.90 % of retail investors lose their capital when trading CFDs with this provider.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 67.90 % of retail investors lose their capital 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.