WTI-PHYSICAL
NEW YORK MERCANTILE EXCHANGE · DISAGG report · Latest: 2026-07-14
In the 2026-07-14 report, leveraged funds were net short 153,451 contracts in WTI-PHYSICAL while asset managers were net long 445,957, so the two institutional camps are positioned against each other. The COT Index sits at 89%, near the top of its one-year range, which historically marks crowded positioning. Week over week, leveraged funds cut 26,888 contracts.
Lev. Funds Net
-153,451
Asset Mgr Net
445,957
Open Interest
1,875,496
COT Index (1Y)
89%
WTI-PHYSICAL | Net Positioning
Recent Reports
| Date | OI | Lev Net | AM Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-14 | 1,875,496 | -153,451 | 445,957 |
| 2026-07-07 | 1,905,761 | -126,563 | 447,774 |
| 2026-06-23 | 1,911,877 | -124,746 | 483,773 |
| 2026-06-16 | 2,007,709 | -144,354 | 493,818 |
| 2026-06-09 | 2,006,635 | -153,246 | 489,122 |
| 2026-06-02 | 2,025,180 | -150,319 | 505,238 |
| 2026-05-26 | 2,003,795 | -163,031 | 529,329 |
| 2026-05-19 | 2,002,950 | -182,670 | 552,204 |
| 2026-05-12 | 2,081,927 | -199,404 | 521,461 |
| 2026-05-05 | 2,067,827 | -209,261 | 526,748 |
| 2026-04-28 | 2,017,038 | -216,505 | 540,702 |
| 2026-04-21 | 1,984,747 | -217,833 | 551,369 |
Get this data via our free API → | GET /api/markets/cot/wti-physical
Understanding
Reading WTI-PHYSICAL positioning
Every Friday the CFTC publishes how each trader class is positioned in WTI-PHYSICAL 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.