CFTC ZAR Non-Commercial Net Positions

Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) ZAR Non-Commercial Net Positions weekly report reflects the difference between the total volume of long and short ZAR positions existing in the market and opened by non-commercial (speculative) traders. The data correspond to positions held mainly by participants in the futures markets of the Chicago and New York stock exchanges. So the indicator is a net volume of long ZAR positions in the United States.

Non-commercial traders open positions NOT for hedging in the futures or options market. This group includes only speculative operations. The same trader can be defined as commercial for trades with some assets and non-commercial with others. This classification is reflected in CFTC reports.

CFTC publishes report on net positions and commitments of traders to help traders and analysts understand the market dynamics. These reports are compiled on the basis of data on positions provided by FCM brokers, clearing companies and currency exchanges. The CFTC analytical department only provides data, but does not provide explanation on why such ratio of positions has formed.

Growth in the amount of long speculative South African rand positions is an indirect indication of an increase in ZAR market activity. However, it does not affect the price directly due to the small amount of data represented, compared to the global scale.