CFTC: Speculators Boost Net Longs in NYMEX WTI
Barani Krishnan
DTN Refined Fuels Market Reporter
SECAUCUS, NJ (DTN) -- Speculators added to bullish bet in NYMEX crude oil
while paring them on gasoline during the week ended February 17, Commodity
Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) data showed Friday (2/20). In distillates
and natural gas, the bearish position rose significantly.
In NYMEX WTI crude futures, noncommercial long positions rose by 903
contracts to 321,645, the CFTC said in its weekly Commitment of Traders report.
Short positions tumbled by a wider margin of 22,626 contracts to 180,302.
The difference between the two grew noncommercial net longs by 23,529
contracts to 141,343, boosting the bullish position in WTI.
WTI's open interest surged by 16,955 to 2,087,493 underscoring the boost in
net longs.
In NYMEX RBOB gasoline futures, noncommercial long positions fell by 1,834
contracts to 117,261, while short positions slipped by a smaller 620 contracts
to 28,519. As a result, the noncommercial net long position slipped by only
1,214 contracts to 88,742, with the drop limited by some short-covering.
Open interest in gasoline, meanwhile, rose by 1,616 contracts to 464,672.
In NYMEX ULSD futures, noncommercial long positions rose by 383 contracts to
63,052 while short positions jumped by 4,433 contracts to 47,650. The changes
slashed the noncommercial net long position in ULSD by 4,050 contracts to
15,402.
Open interest in ULSD surged by 17,341 contracts to 377,488 during the
reporting week, reflecting the intense build in shorts.
In NYMEX natural gas futures, noncommercial long positions dropped by 2,395
contracts to 205,853, but short positions rose by a wider 11,552 contracts to
391,665. The moves deepened the noncommercial net short position in natural gas
by 13,947 contracts to 185,812. Open interest tumbled by 9,852 contracts to
1,613,556, reflecting a pullback in overall market participation.
(c) Copyright 2026 DTN, LLC. All rights reserved.
