The Commitment of Traders (COT) report is a list that summarizes various traders' positions in the precious metals market.

I hear guys like Ted Butler and Harvey Organ talk about the COT Report like it means something, and I believe them. It has terms like "open interest" and "Disaggregated Commitments of Traders" and "Changes in Commitments from"

I will paste one week's worth below. I have a feeling that there is a correlation between what is buried in the COT and related reports, and the recent uptick to $1230 - $1240 for gold and the subsequent price retreat. I would like to understand these price movements better.

http://www.cftc.gov/dea/options/other_lof.htm

linked to from
http://www.cftc.gov/marketreports/co...ders/index.htm


Question #2 - The COT List looks to be a summary. Where could I obtain a more detailed list, that shows buy and sell offers and related information at every price point ? Or do I have to join an exchange and be listed as a metal trader to get this kind of information ?


SILVER - COMMODITY EXCHANGE INC. Code-084691
Disaggregated Commitments of Traders - Options and Futures Combined, June 1, 2010
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : Reportable Positions : Nonreportable
: : Producer/Merchant/ : : : : Positions
: Open : Processor/User : Swap Dealers : Managed Money : Other Reportables :
: Interest : Long : Short : Long : Short :Spreading : Long : Short :Spreading : Long : Short :Spreading : Long : Short
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: CONTRACTS OF 5,000 TROY OUNCES) :
: : Positions :
All : 156,371: 8,406 63,646 22,142 22,070 10,546 32,035 1,876 17,139 10,868 2,756 26,307: 28,928 12,032
Old : 156,371: 8,406 63,646 22,142 22,070 10,546 32,035 1,876 17,139 10,868 2,756 26,307: 28,928 12,032
Other: 0: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0: 0 0
: : :
: : Changes in Commitments from: May 25, 2010 :
: 4,048: -45 1,155 558 515 1,196 -117 -1,954 689 171 134 964: 632 1,348
: : :
: : Percent of Open Interest Represented by Each Category of Trader :
All : 100.0: 5.4 40.7 14.2 14.1 6.7 20.5 1.2 11.0 7.0 1.8 16.8: 18.5 7.7
Old : 100.0: 5.4 40.7 14.2 14.1 6.7 20.5 1.2 11.0 7.0 1.8 16.8: 18.5 7.7
Other: 100.0: 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0: 0.0 0.0
: : :
: : Number of Traders in Each Category :
All : 166: 11 25 14 11 17 44 9 16 36 19 36:
Old : 166: 11 25 14 11 17 44 9 16 36 19 36:
Other: 0: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0:
:-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Percent of Open Interest Held by the Indicated Number of the Largest Traders
: By Gross Position By Net Position
: 4 or Less Traders 8 or Less Traders 4 or Less Traders 8 or Less Traders
: Long: Short Long Short: Long Short Long Short
:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All : 17.3 39.3 25.7 51.3 10.0 33.4 16.6 43.0
Old : 17.3 39.3 25.7 51.3 10.0 33.4 16.6 43.0
Other: 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0