background image

COT: Buyers return to metals as dollar sags

Picture of Ole Hansen
Ole Hansen

Head of Commodity Strategy

Summary:  Our weekly Commitment of Traders update highlights future positions and changes made by hedge funds and other speculators across commodities and forex up until last Tuesday, May 24. A week where risk sentiment once again deteriorated on worries that aggressive moves to curb inflation might drive the US economy towards a recession. Bond yields and the dollar both traded lower in response to these developments, thereby inadvertently supporting the commodity sector where gains were led by energy as well as industrial and precious metals.


Saxo Bank publishes weekly Commitment of Traders reports (COT) covering leveraged fund positions in commodities, bonds and stock index futures. For IMM currency futures and the VIX, we use the broader measure called non-commercial.

This summary highlights futures positions and changes made by hedge funds across commodities and forex up until last Tuesday, May 24. A week where risk sentiment in the stock market deteriorated once again on worries that aggressive moves to curb inflation might tip the US economy into recession. This after recent economic data and corporate earnings pointed to a degree of macroeconomic deterioration. Bond yields and the dollar both traded lower in response to these developments which drove down the S&P 500 by 3.6% on the week. Thereby inadvertently supporting the commodity sector where gains were led by energy as well as the industrial and precious metal sectors.  

Latest across market updates, including crude oil and gold, can be found in our daily Financial Market Quick Take here

Commodities

The Bloomberg Commodity Spot index traded a tad higher and not far below the April 18 record peak. Gains were led by precious and industrial metals, the energy sector took a breather while broad losses were seen across the agricultural sector led by corn, wheat, coffee and cotton. 

Speculators responded to these developments by adding length to a handful of commodities led by gold, brent crude, soybeans and sugar while a broad range saw reduction led by WTI crude oil, fuel oil products, corn, cocoa and livestock.

30olh_cot1

Energy: The energy was mixed with net buying of Brent, being partly offset by long liquidation in WTI crude oil. In addition, all three fuel products saw net selling as a pickup in refinery activity following maintenance triggered some price weakness and profit taking. Overall the combined crude oil net long rose for a second week to reach 473k lots, a three-month high.

Metals: Precious metals ended up being the best performing sectorduring the reporting week as lower bond yields and a weaker dollar supported a strong bounce in gold. The 2.5% rally supported a 42% increase in the net long position to 77.5k lots, still a much-depleted position compared with the March peak at 176k lots. Copper was bought for a second week as speculators continued to pair back short positions. Overall, a net short position of 11k lots has become a major tailwind for the bulls as the demand outlook in China improves as anti-virus measures are reduced.

Agriculture: The grain sector has now seen a net reduction in bullish bets in four out of the last five weeks. Selling was led by corn and wheat while the soybean complex was mixed. Since 2010 the total net long across the six major grain futures has only reached above 800,000 lots on four occasions, and based on the previous three, that milestone subsequently triggered a major market correction and position adjustments. Whether the same can happen at this juncture remains to be seen and will most likely depend on weather developments and whether a corridor can be arranged so that Ukraine can ship out stranded stocks of wheat and corn. 

Sharp price corrections in coffee and cotton supported long liquidations while the cocoa position flipped back to a net short for the first time in four months.

30olh_cot2

Forex

Speculators cut bullish dollar bets by 9% to $21 billion, a four-week low. Driven by a near doubling of the EURUSD long as speculators added length for a fourth consecutive week. During this time, they bought €5.7 billion, and so far, their search for a peak in the dollar has been successful with the EURUSD trading at a five-week high at €1.076 after finding support below €1.04. Flows among the other IMM currency futures were mixed with selling of GBP lifting the net short to 32-month high, CHF, AUD and NZD being partly offset by demand for JPY and CAD. 

30olh_cot3
What is the Commitments of Traders report?

The COT reports are issued by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the ICE Exchange Europe for Brent crude oil and gas oil. They are released every Friday after the U.S. close with data from the week ending the previous Tuesday. They break down the open interest in futures markets into different groups of users depending on the asset class.

Commodities: Producer/Merchant/Processor/User, Swap dealers, Managed Money and other
Financials: Dealer/Intermediary; Asset Manager/Institutional; Leveraged Funds and other
Forex: A broad breakdown between commercial and non-commercial (speculators)

The reasons why we focus primarily on the behavior of the highlighted groups are:

  • They are likely to have tight stops and no underlying exposure that is being hedged
  • This makes them most reactive to changes in fundamental or technical price developments
  • It provides views about major trends but also helps to decipher when a reversal is looming

 

Quarterly Outlook

01 /

  • Macro outlook: Trump 2.0: Can the US have its cake and eat it, too?

    Quarterly Outlook

    Macro outlook: Trump 2.0: Can the US have its cake and eat it, too?

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

  • Equity Outlook: The ride just got rougher

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equity Outlook: The ride just got rougher

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

  • China Outlook: The choice between retaliation or de-escalation

    Quarterly Outlook

    China Outlook: The choice between retaliation or de-escalation

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

  • Commodity Outlook: A bumpy road ahead calls for diversification

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodity Outlook: A bumpy road ahead calls for diversification

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

  • FX outlook: Tariffs drive USD strength, until...?

    Quarterly Outlook

    FX outlook: Tariffs drive USD strength, until...?

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

  • Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges

    Quarterly Outlook

    Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges

    Althea Spinozzi

    Head of Fixed Income Strategy

  • Equity Outlook: Will lower rates lift all boats in equities?

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equity Outlook: Will lower rates lift all boats in equities?

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    After a period of historically high equity index concentration driven by the 'Magnificent Seven' sto...
  • Commodity Outlook: Gold and silver continue to shine bright

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodity Outlook: Gold and silver continue to shine bright

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

  • Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun

    Quarterly Outlook

    Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    The Fed started the US rate cut cycle in Q3 and in this macro outlook we will explore how the rate c...
  • FX Outlook: USD in limbo amid political and policy jitters

    Quarterly Outlook

    FX Outlook: USD in limbo amid political and policy jitters

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

    As we enter the final quarter of 2024, currency markets are set for heightened turbulence due to US ...

Content disclaimer

None of the information provided on this website constitutes an offer, solicitation, or endorsement to buy or sell any financial instrument, nor is it financial, investment, or trading advice. Saxo Bank A/S and its entities within the Saxo Bank Group provide execution-only services, with all trades and investments based on self-directed decisions. Analysis, research, and educational content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered advice nor a recommendation.

Saxo’s content may reflect the personal views of the author, which are subject to change without notice. Mentions of specific financial products are for illustrative purposes only and may serve to clarify financial literacy topics. Content classified as investment research is marketing material and does not meet legal requirements for independent research.

Before making any investment decisions, you should assess your own financial situation, needs, and objectives, and consider seeking independent professional advice. Saxo does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information provided and assumes no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages resulting from the use of this information.

Please refer to our full disclaimer and notification on non-independent investment research for more details.
- Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
- Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)

Saxo Bank A/S (Headquarters)
Philip Heymans Alle 15
2900
Hellerup
Denmark

Contact Saxo

Select region

International
International

All trading and investing comes with risk, including but not limited to the potential to lose your entire invested amount.

Information on our international website (as selected from the globe drop-down) can be accessed worldwide and relates to Saxo Bank A/S as the parent company of the Saxo Bank Group. Any mention of the Saxo Bank Group refers to the overall organisation, including subsidiaries and branches under Saxo Bank A/S. Client agreements are made with the relevant Saxo entity based on your country of residence and are governed by the applicable laws of that entity's jurisdiction.

Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.