The CFTC Commitments of Traders report in the week ended October 30 shows that all major currencies (except USD) were in NET SHORT positions. Speculative longs on USD index added +1 040 contracts while shorts dropped -455, sending the NET LENGTH higher, by +1 495 contracts, to 39 523 contracts. The greenback generally strengthened against major currencies with the exception of Aussie and kiwi. NET SHORTS for both European currencies remained. For EUR futures, speculative long positions gained +8 106 contracts while shorts rose +10 464 contracts, deepening NET SHORT to 32 662 for the week. NET SHORT for GBP futures increased +5 485 contracts to 52 482. Traders should have turned more optimistic on British pound after BOE’s indications of faster rate hike path under the assumption of smooth Brexit. Meanwhile, UK’s Brexit representative Dominic Raab signaled a deal on Irish border could be reach later this month.
On safe-haven currencies, Net SHORT for CHF futures plunged -2 583 contracts to 14 522 while that for JPY futures gained +1 184 contracts, to 91 620 during the week. Bets on the latter dropped on both sides.
All commodity currencies stayed in NET SHORT positions. NET SHORT for AUD futures added +44 contracts to 70 412, while that for NZD futures gained +1 983 contracts to 43 987. NET SHORT for CAD futures rose 2 427 contracts to 9 655.