CFTC Report: CAD short covering leads; Gold buying surges

The week in one sentence: speculative positioning shifted more constructively in the week to August 25. CAD short covering led the move, followed by a broad reduction in EUR shorts and renewed Gold buying. GBP and VIX positioning also improved, while JPY positioning deteriorated and WTI flows diverged from weaker prices.

CAD: Short covering leads

The Canadian Dollar's (CAD) non-commercial net shorts shrank by over 36.5K contracts to about 121.5K contracts, marking the biggest weekly improvement since mid-December. In contrast, USD/CAD traded with respectable losses, with modest CAD rising as positioning improved. Furthermore, the net positioning increased to the 21^st percentile.

EUR: Shorts retreat sharply

Speculative net shorts in the Euro (EUR) shrank by around 22.7K contracts to more than 36.3K contracts, the strongest weekly improvement since mid-April. EUR/USD advanced markedly, even surpassing the 1.1700 barrier for the first time since early May, confirming the more constructive flow, although net positioning remains near the 10^th percentile of its five-year range.

JPY, AUD and commodities diverge

Speculators added nearly 10.4K contracts to their net short positioning of the Japanese Yen (JPY), even as JPY gathered extra pace and prompted USD/JPY to trade with modest losses. The Australian Dollar (AUD) net shorts widened by just 296 contracts, despite a solid performance from AUD/USD, which finally exceeded the 0.7100 barrier. WTI net longs increased by almost 1.4K contracts amid a decent drop in the price of the barrel. Coffee (KC1) speculative positioning increased marginally by 107 contracts alongside a humble price gain.

GBP and VIX: Confirmation strengthens

Net positioning in the British Pound (GBP) improved by just over 10K contracts, while GBP/USD picked up strong upside traction well north of 1.3600 the figure. Speculators trimmed their VIX net shorts by roughly 11.3K contracts, mainly because the reduction of gross shorts more than offset the decline in gross longs; the aka “panic index” traded with a positive footing although meeting resistance around the 16.00 zone, indicating that price and positioning delivered a second confirmation signal.

Gold: Buying accelerates

Gold net longs went up by more than 21.1K contracts to just over 243.3K contracts, the biggest weekly rise since June 2. The precious metal navigated with firm gains over the reporting week, confirming the stronger flow and lifting exposure to the 99^th percentile of its five-year range.

Positioning Map: Gold reaches an extreme

Gold exposure sits near the 99^th percentile, the clearest crowded long in the report. AUD exposure is also elevated near the 81^st percentile. At the other end, EUR net positioning remains near the 10^th percentile and WTI near the 13^th, despite this week's modest increase in Oil longs.