Some example of today's braintrend signal happened on some currency pairs.
The Commitments of Traders (COT) report for USD Index futures (ICE Futures US, contract size: US Dollar Index × 1,000, CFTC Code #098662) as of September 23, 2025, provides a snapshot of positioning in the market. This data is released weekly by the CFTC and reflects positions as of the preceding Tuesday (September 23 in this case). Key headline figures:
The report shows a modest increase in OI driven by additions across most categories, but with mixed directional changes. Speculative shorts eased slightly in Leveraged Funds (less aggressive bearishness), but Asset Managers added to their short bias. Below, I'll break down the data, net positions, changes, and implications.
Positions by Trader Category
Here's a cleaned-up summary table of non-spreading positions (longs and shorts), spreading positions, and their share of total OI. Changes from the prior week (September 16, 2025) are noted where discernible from the report; positive changes in green, negative in red.
| Category | Long Positions | Long % of OI | # Long Traders | Short Positions | Short % of OI | # Short Traders | Spread Positions | Spread % of OI | # Spread Traders | Net Position (Long - Short) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dealer Intermediary (Commercials/Hedgers) | 18,675 | 46.2% | 5 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | 0 | +18,675 |
| Change | -157 | - | - | 0 | - | - | 0 | - | - | -157 |
| Asset Manager/Institutional (Large Specs) | 2,018 | 5.0% | 9 | 11,166 | 27.6% | 18 | 1,979 | 4.9% | 4 | -9,148 |
| Change | +483 | - | - | +1,183 | - | - | N/A | - | - | -700 |
| Leveraged Funds (Hedge Funds/Specs) | 11,700 | 28.9% | 18 | 16,912 | 41.8% | 30 | 879 | 2.2% | 4 | -5,212 |
| Change | +1,327 | - | - | +633 | - | - | +23 | - | - | +691 |
| Other Reportables (Mixed/Others) | 2,441 | 6.0% | 16 | 5,725 | 14.2% | 21 | 44 | 0.1% | 0 | -3,284 |
| Change | +327 | - | - | +138 | - | - | -55 | - | - | +189 |
| Nonreportable Positions (Small Traders) | 2,785 | 6.7% | N/A | 3,736 | 9.2% | N/A | 0 | 0.0% | N/A | -951 |
| Change | -71 | - | - | +320 | - | - | 0 | - | - | -391 |
| Totals | 37,619 | 92.9% | 48 | 37,539 | 92.8% | 69 | 2,902 | 7.2% | 8 | Commercials +18,675; Specs -18,383 |
Notes:
The report includes stacked bar charts emphasizing the long/short balance:
| Category | Long Stack (Green) | Short Stack (Red) |
|---|---|---|
| Dealer | 100% Long | 0% Short |
| Asset Mgr | ~15% Long / 85% Short (incl. spread) | |
| Lev Funds | ~40% Long / 60% Short | |
| Other Rep | ~30% Long / 70% Short | |
| Nonrep | ~43% Long / 57% Short |
Disclaimer: This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. The COT report is a lagging indicator, reflecting positions from the previous Tuesday.
This two currency pairs moves a lot after CAD CPI news released.
EURAUD moves pass above 125% average range.
The COT report reveals a market with a significant net short bias held by Asset Managers, which is being counterbalanced by net long positions from Leveraged Funds and Dealer/Intermediaries. The extremely high "Spread" positions, particularly from Leveraged Funds, indicate a market dominated by complex, multi-leg strategies rather than outright directional bets. This often leads to a state of equilibrium but can also be a precursor to increased volatility when these positions unwind.
Open Interest (322,879): This is the total number of open contracts. It's a high figure, indicating strong liquidity and significant interest in GBP futures.
Total Traders (110): A manageable number of reporting entities, suggesting that positions might be concentrated among a few key players.
Position: Net Long. (Long: 76,502 | Short: 25,168 | Spread: 77,236)
Interpretation: Dealers are typically on the other side of their clients' trades. Their substantial net long position suggests that, in aggregate, their clients (like Asset Managers and Leveraged Funds) have been selling/shorting the British Pound. Dealers accumulate long positions to provide liquidity for these client sales. The massive spread position further underscores their role in facilitating complex trades and managing risk.
Position: Overwhelmingly Net Short. (Long: 39,774 | Short: 110,081)
Interpretation: This is the most decisive group. Institutional investors (e.g., pension funds, insurance companies) hold a very large net short position. This typically reflects a bearish fundamental outlook on the British Pound. They may be hedging against UK asset depreciation or speculating on GBP weakness due to factors like economic data, interest rate expectations, or geopolitical concerns.
Position: Net Long, but with a huge caveat. (Long: 57,669 | Short: 40,714 | Spread: 132,667)
Interpretation: While they are net long on outright positions, their activity is dominated by an enormous spread position. This means they are primarily engaged in strategies like calendar spreads (buying one contract month, selling another) or cross-currency spreads. This is not a pure directional bet on GBP strength but rather a bet on the relationship between different contracts or currencies. It suggests they are seeking value or playing interest rate differentials rather than making a simple "up or down" prediction.
Other Reportables: A very small net short position, insignificant to the overall market.
Nonreportable Positions (Small Speculators): Slightly net long (33,639 vs. 29,818). This group is often considered the "dumb money" and is frequently on the wrong side of major moves. Their net long position, while small, contrasts with the large institutional net short position, which is a notable divergence.
Primary Bearish Force: The clear and large net short position from Asset Managers/Institutional investors sets a fundamentally bearish tone for the GBP.
Counteracting Forces: This selling pressure is being absorbed by:
Dealers who are required to be counterparties.
Leveraged Funds who are primarily trading spreads, not outright direction.
Market State: The market appears to be in a tense balance. The massive spread positions act as a stabilizer for now. However, this balance is fragile.
Risk of a Squeeze: If there is a sudden positive catalyst for the GBP (e.g., a hawkish shift from the Bank of England, better-than-expected economic data), the price could rise sharply. This would force:
Asset Managers to cover their large short positions (buying back GBP).
Leveraged Funds to unwind their complex spread trades, which could involve buying GBP.
This collective buying could fuel a significant short squeeze, leading to a rapid and powerful upward move in the Pound.
The second row under each position (e.g., 22,176 for Dealer Longs) shows the change from the previous week's report.
Dealers: Increased their net long exposure. They added +22,176 longs and reduced their shorts by -29,000. This is a significant weekly shift towards a more bullish stance by this group, likely facilitating more client selling.
Asset Managers: Moderately increased their net short exposure (+19,772 longs vs. +5,311 shorts). They are adding to their bearish bet.
Leveraged Funds: Dramatically increased their spread positions by a massive +131,146 contracts. This is the most important change this week. It shows a huge influx into spread trading, further emphasizing that sophisticated speculators are avoiding outright directional bets in favor of more complex strategies.
Small Speculators (Nonreportable): Increased their net long position (+12,174 longs vs. a tiny +311 shorts), reinforcing their slight bullish lean.
The GBP futures market is characterized by a clash between a fundamentally bearish institutional outlook and a market structure currently balanced by spread trades and dealer activity. The risk is asymmetrically tilted to the upside. While the prevailing sentiment is negative, the buildup of large short and spread positions creates the fuel for a potent rally if the current bearish narrative changes.
Disclaimer: This analysis is based solely on the provided COT report. Market conditions are dynamic, and this data should be combined with current fundamental news and technical analysis for a complete trading view.
The COT report reveals an extremely bearish market sentiment towards the Japanese Yen. The market is heavily net short, a position overwhelmingly driven by Dealers, who are typically considered the "smart money." This suggests strong institutional expectation for further Yen weakness. However, a significant build-up of long positions by Asset Managers provides a notable counterweight, indicating a fundamental divergence in views between major player types.
Open Interest: 410,799 contracts (an increase of 3,450). This rise in open interest alongside price movement (typically down, given the net short position) can often signal a strengthening of the prevailing bearish trend.
Number of Traders: 141. This indicates a highly institutional market.
Position: Massive Net Short.
Long Positions: 53,701 (13.1% of OI)
Short Positions: 204,972 (49.9% of OI)
Net Position: -151,271 contracts (Net Short)
Analysis: This is the most significant takeaway from the report. Dealers hold nearly four times as many short positions as long ones. They increased their net short position significantly by adding 16,568 new short contracts. This group's extreme positioning is a powerful bearish signal for the Yen.
Position: Strong Net Long.
Long Positions: 118,215 (28.8% of OI)
Short Positions: 32,362 (7.9% of OI)
Net Position: +85,853 contracts (Net Long)
Analysis: This group holds a strong bullish conviction, acting as the primary counterforce to the Dealers. They added a substantial 38,906 long contracts. This suggests they believe the Yen is fundamentally undervalued or due for a reversal, likely based on macroeconomic factors (e.g., potential Bank of Japan policy shifts, valuation models).
Position: Net Short.
Long Positions: 41,473 (10.1% of OI)
Short Positions: 83,135 (20.2% of OI)
Net Position: -41,662 contracts (Net Short)
Analysis: Leveraged funds are bearish but notably reduced their net short position during the week. They covered 10,778 short contracts and also sold 16,600 spread positions (which often implies closing out bullish spread bets). This "short covering" can provide short-term support for the Yen and may indicate a cooling of the most aggressive speculative bearish bets.
Other Reportables: Hold a very large net long position (98,700 vs 419), but this is likely a single or a few large entities and is less indicative of broad sentiment.
Nonreportable Positions (Small Speculators): Are net long by 8,799 contracts. Historically, small speculators are often on the wrong side of the trade, so their net long position subtly reinforces the bearish outlook.
Dominant Sentiment: Bearish. The market structure is defined by the colossal net short position of the Dealer group.
Market Divergence: A classic "battle" is set up between the deep-pocketed, often well-informed Dealers (net short) and the fundamentally-driven Asset Managers (net long). The Leveraged Funds are caught in the middle, currently siding with bears but showing signs of pulling back.
Price Outlook:
Short-Term: The dominance of Dealers suggests the path of least resistance is down. Further Yen weakness is possible.
Medium-Term: The large net long position of Asset Managers represents significant buying power. If their fundamental thesis (e.g., a hawkish BoJ pivot) plays out, they could fuel a powerful short-covering rally. The Yen has potential for a sharp rebound if market catalysts change.
Dealers became more bearish (added shorts).
Asset Managers became more bullish (added longs).
Leveraged Funds became less bearish (covered shorts and closed spreads).
This shows the bearish and bullish bets are both getting larger, increasing the potential energy in the market for a significant move once one side capitulates.
The JPY futures market is poised for high volatility. The current setup is dominated by strong bearish commercial hedging or speculation (Dealers), but is facing equally strong bullish fundamental conviction (Asset Managers). The market is heavily net short, but the largest speculative group (Leveraged Funds) is starting to reduce its bearish exposure. This creates a environment where the Yen is vulnerable to further selling, but also primed for a violent rally if the fundamental outlook shifts or if Dealers begin to take profits on their massive short positions.
Disclaimer: This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. The COT report is a lagging indicator and reflects past positioning.