Jornalo
All markets

WTI Crude Oil: COT positioning

Net position of non-commercials (large speculators) in WTI Crude Oil futures (CL) from the CFTC Commitments of Traders report.

Report of Oct 13, 2026

Net position (contracts)
100,343
Weekly change
+1,283
% of open interest
+5.3%
COT index (52 wk)
31

COT index 31: the net position sits at 31% of its 52-week range (0 = most bearish of the year, 100 = most bullish).

WTI Crude Oil: net position, last 52 weeks

2025-10-14: 60,9912025-10-21: 39,8002025-10-28: 65,6012025-11-04: 74,9072025-11-10: 60,3842025-11-18: 69,1762025-11-25: 55,0172025-12-02: 51,0372025-12-09: 58,4332025-12-16: 54,8962025-12-23: 64,8982025-12-30: 64,5912026-01-06: 57,3522026-01-13: 58,1282026-01-20: 78,7922026-01-27: 96,9822026-02-03: 124,5652026-02-10: 117,8142026-02-17: 141,3432026-02-24: 172,7122026-03-03: 172,1502026-03-10: 228,0152026-03-17: 218,6882026-03-24: 233,6202026-03-31: 213,4882026-04-07: 202,1532026-04-14: 206,5412026-04-21: 192,3022026-04-28: 191,9112026-05-05: 178,7862026-05-12: 169,8772026-05-19: 172,5802026-05-26: 160,9982026-06-02: 155,8742026-06-09: 130,3012026-06-16: 124,4832026-06-23: 114,6332026-06-30: 110,5312026-07-07: 75,7492026-07-14: 62,6832026-07-21: 81,6892026-07-28: 120,1082026-08-04: 112,4432026-08-11: 99,1962026-08-18: 122,0902026-08-25: 123,4492026-09-01: 129,9112026-09-08: 136,5792026-09-15: 135,9052026-09-22: 141,1062026-09-29: 109,4632026-10-06: 99,0602026-10-13: 100,3432025-10-142026-04-142026-10-13

Weekly bars of the net position of non-commercials (large speculators). Green: net long; red: net short.

Last 8 reports

DateLongShortNetCommercials netOpen interest
Oct 13, 2026344,653244,310100,343-125,3351,900,179
Oct 6, 2026336,706237,64699,060-126,4581,889,422
Sep 29, 2026361,351251,888109,463-142,6181,878,576
Sep 22, 2026360,810219,704141,106-169,8891,841,811
Sep 15, 2026371,202235,297135,905-164,8581,955,764
Sep 8, 2026350,118213,539136,579-166,1851,939,911
Sep 1, 2026332,448202,537129,911-156,0051,921,085
Aug 25, 2026323,243199,794123,449-156,2461,906,740

How to read it

  • A COT index above 90 or below 10 means non-commercials (large speculators) are at a yearly extreme in WTI Crude Oil: the move can continue, but there is plenty of fuel for a sharp reversal if a surprise hits.
  • Read the weekly change next to price: price up with the net position rising means buyers behind the move; price up with the net falling means short covering.
  • Open interest growing with the net position points to new money coming in; a net change with flat open interest means positions changing hands.

Frequently asked questions

What does the net position in WTI Crude Oil mean?

It is the difference between the contracts non-commercials (large speculators) hold long and short in WTI Crude Oil. Positive: as a group they bet on higher prices; negative: on lower prices.

How often is the WTI Crude Oil data updated?

Once a week. The CFTC publishes the report on Friday with Tuesday's positions; this page refreshes automatically a few hours later.

Can I trade WTI Crude Oil on the COT alone?

Not a good idea. The COT describes positioning with a few days' delay and extremes can last for weeks. Use it as context alongside your analysis, your risk management and the release calendar.

Other markets in the sector: Natural Gas

Source: CFTC Commitments of Traders (Legacy and Traders in Financial Futures, futures only). Calculations by Jornalo. Information, not financial advice.

Your journal, with the calendar and the COT next to it

Next to your journal, Jornalo includes the week's economic calendar with the Friday COT figure for 20 markets, so you start the session knowing what gets released and how the market is loaded.