VIX NON-COMMERCIAL SPECULATOR POSITIONS:
Large volatility speculators reduced their bearish net positions in the VIX futures markets this week, according to the latest Commitment of Traders (COT) data released by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on Friday.
VIX COT Futures Large Trader Positions
The non-commercial futures contracts of VIX futures, traded by large speculators and hedge funds, totaled a net position of -88,911 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday July 28th. This was a weekly change of 6,307 net contracts from the previous week which had a total of -95,218 net contracts.
The week’s net position was the result of the gross bullish position (longs) gaining by 1,228 contracts (to a weekly total of 53,826 contracts) while the gross bearish position (shorts) fell by -5,079 contracts for the week (to a total of 142,737 contracts).
VIX speculators cut back on their bearish net positions following five straight weeks of gains. Bearish bets had also increased in eight out of the previous nine weeks and brought the overall speculator standing to the most bearish level of the previous twenty-two weeks. Despite this week’s reduction, the current standing continues to show the speculator’s sentiment of a lower price for the VIX index.
VIX COMMERCIAL POSITIONS:
The commercial traders' position, hedgers or traders engaged in buying and selling for business purposes, totaled a net position of 96,850 contracts on the week. This was a weekly fall of -6,313 contracts from the total net of 103,163 contracts reported the previous week.
VIX COT Futures Large Trader Positions
VIX FUTURES:
Over the same weekly reporting time-frame, from Tuesday to Tuesday, the VIX Futures (Front Month) closed at approximately $27.60 which was an uptick of $2.77 from the previous close of $24.83, according to unofficial market data.