NEW YORK, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Currency speculators decreased
bets against the U.S. dollar in the latest week to the lowest
net short position in 11 weeks, according to Commodity Futures
Trading Commission data released on Friday.
The value of the dollar's net short position fell to $10.75
billion in the week ending Nov. 3 from a $15.61 billion net
short the prior week. It was the lowest net short position
against the U.S. dollar since Aug. 18, based on the data and
Reuters calculation.
The decrease in net short dollars was driven mainly by
another sharp decline in bearish trades on sterling.
The net short position on sterling fell to 18,905 contracts
in the latest week from 31,431 contracts in the prior week. Net
short sterling contracts had been at a record high just a few
weeks ago, in the period ending Oct. 13 at 65,346 contracts.
Sterling open interest, however, barely changed in the
latest week, rising 1,501 contracts to 97,336 contracts.
Other factors for the change in the net short dollar
position included a fall in net euro long contracts, down to
22,191 contracts from 32,869 contracts in the prior week. Open
interest declined by 3,541 contracts to 161,257 contracts.
Canadian dollar net long contracts also dropped, falling to
23,369 contracts from 35,455 contracts in the prior week. Open
interest dropped 16,739 contracts to 82,896 contracts.
The aggregate U.S. dollar position, meanwhile, is derived
from the net positions of International Monetary Market
speculators in the yen, euro, British pound, Swiss franc,
Canadian and Australian dollars.
JAPANESE YEN (Contracts of 12,500,000 yen)
11/03/09 week 10/27/09 week
Long 39,028 36,076
Short 19,196 18,546
Net 19,832 17,530
EURO (Contracts of 125,000 euros)
11/03/09 week 10/27/09 week
Long 64,023 67,843
Short 41,832 34,974
Net 22,191 32,869
POUND STERLING (Contracts of 62,500 pounds sterling)
11/03/09 week 10/27/09 week
Long 25,102 21,736
Short 44,007 53,167
Net -18,905 -31,431
SWISS FRANC (Contracts of 125,000 Swiss francs)
11/03/09 week 10/27/09 week
Long 21,171 24,104
Short 2,506 6,259
Net 18,665 17,845
CANADIAN DOLLAR (Contracts of 100,000 Canadian dollars)
11/03/09 week 10/27/09 week
Long 27,862 41,261
Short 4,493 5,806
Net 23,369 35,455
AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR (Contracts of 100,000 Aussie dollars)
11/03/09 week 10/27/09 week
Long 55,825 59,128
Short 5,442 6,241
Net 50,383 52,887
MEXICAN PESO (Contracts of 500,000 pesos)
11/03/09 week 10/27/09 week
Long 66,828 73,654
Short 6,901 6,859
Net 59,927 66,795
NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR (Contracts of 100,000 New Zealand
dollars)
11/03/09 week 10/27/09 week
Long 15,802 17,613
Short 2,486 2,585
Net 13,316 15,028
(Reporting by Nick Olivari; Editing by Leslie Adler)
