CRUDE OIL, LIGHT SWEET
ICE FUTURES EUROPE · DISAGG report · Latest: 2026-07-21
In the 2026-07-21 report, leveraged funds were net short 2,315 contracts in CRUDE OIL, LIGHT SWEET while asset managers were net long 29,151, so the two institutional camps are positioned against each other. The COT Index sits at 31%, the middle of its one-year range. Week over week, leveraged funds added 2,896 contracts.
Lev. Funds Net
-2,315
Asset Mgr Net
29,151
Open Interest
770,415
COT Index (1Y)
31%
CRUDE OIL, LIGHT SWEET | Net Positioning
Recent Reports
| Date | OI | Lev Net | AM Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-21 | 770,415 | -2,315 | 29,151 |
| 2026-07-14 | 791,680 | -5,211 | 32,724 |
| 2026-07-07 | 801,410 | -8,688 | 31,743 |
| 2026-06-23 | 803,067 | -6,974 | 42,963 |
| 2026-06-16 | 822,990 | 344 | 56,281 |
| 2026-06-09 | 818,492 | 7,810 | 53,357 |
| 2026-06-02 | 816,733 | 7,404 | 54,112 |
| 2026-05-26 | 830,992 | 11,153 | 38,947 |
| 2026-05-19 | 836,880 | 15,852 | 42,076 |
| 2026-05-12 | 875,230 | 26,402 | 58,211 |
| 2026-05-05 | 866,504 | 24,818 | 53,864 |
| 2026-04-28 | 855,542 | 29,149 | 49,202 |
Get this data via our free API → | GET /api/markets/cot/crude-oil-light-sweet
Understanding
Reading CRUDE OIL, LIGHT SWEET positioning
Every Friday the CFTC publishes how each trader class is positioned in CRUDE OIL, LIGHT SWEET futures as of the preceding Tuesday. Leveraged funds are hedge funds and CTAs, the fast money; asset managers are pension funds and institutions, the slow money. Watching how each side moves week to week tells you who is driving price.
The COT Index above maps the current net position onto its one-year range: near 100% means the most stretched positioning in a year, near 0% the most washed out. Extremes are not timing signals on their own, but they tell you which side of the boat is crowded, and crowded trades unwind violently.
A useful habit: compare the two camps. When leveraged funds and asset managers agree, trends tend to persist. When they position against each other, volatility usually follows. The weekly table below the chart shows exactly that history.
Common Questions
When does this data update?
The CFTC releases every Friday at 3:30pm ET with data as of Tuesday. We parse it within hours, with a Saturday retry for late publications.
What does a negative net position mean?
More short contracts than long among that trader class. It is positioning, not a price prediction.
Why does this market sometimes miss a week?
The CFTC occasionally delays releases around US holidays; the gap fills with the next report.