VIX Non-Commercial Speculator Positions:
Large volatility speculators cut back on their bearish net positions in the VIX futures markets this week, according to the latest Commitment of Traders (COT) data released by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on Friday.
The non-commercial futures contracts of VIX futures, traded by large speculators and hedge funds, totaled a net position of -183,028 contracts in the data reported through Tuesday, December 10th. This was a weekly change of 16,284 net contracts from the previous week which had a total of -199,312 net contracts.
The week’s net position was the result of the gross bullish position (longs) sliding by -9,424 contracts (to a weekly total of 65,785 contracts) while the gross bearish position (shorts) fell by -25,708 contracts for the week (to a total of 248,813 contracts).
VIX Speculators reduced their bearish bets for a third consecutive week and by a total of 35,334 contracts over that three-week period. The recent declines follow a strong streak of higher and higher bearish positions that culminated in an all-time record high bearish position on November 19th with a total of -218,362 contracts. The VIX bearish position has now been over the -100,000 net contract level for thirteen straight weeks.
VIX Commercial Positions:
The commercial traders position, hedgers or traders engaged in buying and selling for business purposes, totaled a net position of 195,076 contracts on the week. This was a weekly decline of -13,731 contracts from the total net of 208,807 contracts reported the previous week.
VIX Futures:
Over the same weekly reporting time-frame, from Tuesday to Tuesday, the VIX Futures (Front Month) closed at approximately $16.87 which was an advance of $0.65 from the previous close of $16.22, according to unofficial market data.