Forecasting Forex with COT Data

Published June 29th, 2009 - 10:53 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba
COT data suggests that the US dollar is closer to bottoming than topping although a bottom may not form for another several weeks.


Latest CFTC Release Dated June 16, 2009:

Week (Data for Tuesdays)

COT Impications

13 Week Index (Current)

13 Week Index (Previous)

US Dollar

bottoming

83

0

Euro

topping

83

83

British Pound

topping

92

100

Australian Dollar

neutral

58

75

NZ Dollar

topping

100

100

Japanese Yen

neutral

67

42

Canadian Dollar

bearish

75

100

Swiss Franc

topping

100

83



 

 

 

 


The COT Index is the percentile of the difference between net speculative positioning and net commercial positioning measured over a specific number of weeks (either 52 or 13).  A reading close to 0 suggests that a bottom is forming and a reading close to 100 suggests that a top is forming.  The readings are for the actual currency, not the currency pair.  For example, a reading of 100 on the Canadian Dollar suggests that the Canadian Dollar is close to a top (USDCAD close to a bottom).
   
Readings of 95 and higher as well as 5 and lower are in boldfaced red type to indicate potential market extremes.  For example, an increasing index is bullish until the index is extreme (near 100), at which time the risk of a reversal or pause in the trend increases

US Dollar





US Dollar Index: The 13 week index has increased from 0, which indicates a bearish sentiment extreme.  Sentiment extremes occur near bottoms so expect a bottom and reversal in the USD within a few weeks.

Implications: bottoming

Euro





EUR: The 13 week index has rolled over from 100, which indicates a turn from a sentiment extreme.  Tops tend to occur in close proximity to readings of 100.

Implications: topping

British Pound





GBP: The 13 week index has rolled over from 100, which indicates a turn from a sentiment extreme.  Tops tend to occur in close proximity to readings of 100.
   
Implications: topping

Australian Dollar





AUD: The 13 week index is at 58 after having rolled over from 100 during the first week of June (the top).  With the AUDUSD failing to fall in line with the declining index, confidence in the early June high staying intact is low. 

Implications: neutral

New Zealand Dollar





NZD:  The 13 week index is at 100, which indicates a sentiment extreme.  A top typically accompanies index readings of 100.

Implications: bearish

Japanese Yen





JPY:  The 13 week index is at 67 and has not been extreme recently, which is neutral. 

Implications: neutral

Canadian Dollar





CAD: The 13 week index has rolled over from 100, indicating a turn from a bullish sentiment extreme.  Sentiment extremes occur at turns so favor CAD weakness (USDCAD bullish).

Implications: bearish (USDCAD bullish)

Swiss Franc





CHF: The 13 week index is back at 100, which indicates a sentiment extreme.  A top (USDCHF bottom) typically accompanies index readings of 100 so expect a turn in the next several weeks.

Implications: topping (USDCHF bottoming)


Jamie Saettele publishes Daily Technicals every weekday morning (930 am EST), COT analysis (published Monday mornings), technical analysis of currency crosses throughout the week (EUR on Tuesday, JPY on Wednesday, GBP on Thursday, AUD on Friday), and the DFX Trend Index every day after the NY close.  He is also the author of Sentiment in the Forex Market.
   
Contact at jsaettele@dailyfx.com