CFTC Commitments of Traders – Bets for Higher Oil Price Remained Though Momentum Eased

According to the CFTC Commitments of Traders report for the week ended December 17. NET LENGTH for crude oil futures jumped +40 838 contracts to 536 377 for the week. Speculative long positions gained +34 897 contracts while shorts declined -5 941 contracts. For refined oil products, NET LENGTH for gasoline added +1 555 contracts to 98 342, while heating oil drifted to  NET SHORT of 507 contracts for the week. NET SHORT for natural gas futures declined -18 202 contracts to 200 724 contracts for the week.

NET LENGTH for gold futures rose +15 355 contracts to 586 275. Speculative long positions gained +15 324 contracts, while shorts slipped -31. Silver futures’ NET LENGTH gained +5 039 contracts to 45 781. Speculative long positions added +2 598 contracts while shorts fell -2 441. For PGMs, NET LENGTH of Nymex platinum futures gained +4 699 contracts to 54 276 while that for palladium increased +497 contracts to 13 004.