On the domestic front, sentiment was further undermined by reports linking Senator Flávio Bolsonaro to former Banco Master owner Daniel Vorcaro, who faces fraud charges. In the equity market, major banks retreated, with Itaú losing 1.7% and Bradesco dropping 1.2%. Eneva slid 3.4% despite reporting robust first-quarter results, while Marfrig ended the session stable after posting solid earnings. Moving in the opposite direction, Petrobras advanced 1%, supported by the uptick in oil prices, which buoyed energy stocks.

Financials also traded lower, with Brookfield slipping 4%. Mining stocks led the declines as higher US Treasury yields and a stronger US dollar pressured gold prices and dampened investor appetite for precious-metals producers. Agnico Eagle dropped 6.2%, Barrick fell 5.8%, and Wheaton Precious Metals lost 6.1%.

In contrast, energy shares advanced as oil prices climbed following comments from Donald Trump and Iran’s foreign minister that further dimmed hopes for an agreement to halt attacks and ship seizures around the Strait of Hormuz. Canadian Natural gained 1.2%, while Suncor rose 2.5%.

After a strong run-up, investors locked in profits in the technology sector. Intel fell 5%, while Advanced Micro Devices and Micron Technology slipped 3% and 4%, respectively. Nvidia retreated 2%, and Cerebras Systems dropped 4% after soaring 68% in the previous session following its Nasdaq debut.

Microsoft was a notable outperformer, rising 4% after Bill Ackman disclosed that Pershing Square had taken a position in the company. Boeing shares extended their slide, falling 3% after a nearly 5% drop the previous day, as investors reacted coolly to Trump’s announcement that China had agreed to purchase 200 Boeing jets—a figure viewed as only slightly above prior expectations.

The shift indicates that while traders remain net short on the kiwi, some bearish positions have been scaled back. This reduction in net shorts may signal a cautiously improving sentiment toward the New Zealand dollar, or profit-taking after an extended period of negative positioning, as market participants reassess the currency’s outlook in light of evolving global and domestic conditions.

The widening negative balance in speculative positioning suggests growing bearish sentiment toward Japan’s currency among leveraged funds and other speculative players. A more negative net figure reflects a larger volume of short contracts relative to longs, highlighting that traders are increasingly betting on further yen weakness.

For investors and currency watchers, the shift from -61.7K to -75.1K underscores mounting pressure on the yen in global FX markets and may influence expectations around Japan’s monetary policy stance and broader capital flows tied to the currency’s performance.

The increase in net long positions suggests that market participants have slightly strengthened their bullish stance on the real. While the move is incremental, the shift from 66.8K to 68.6K contracts indicates continued confidence among speculators toward Brazil’s currency in the current environment.

Traders and investors will be watching upcoming economic and policy developments in Brazil for confirmation that this positive positioning can be sustained, as any shifts in domestic conditions or global risk sentiment could quickly reshape speculative flows into the BRL.

The increase suggests that traders and investors are becoming more confident in the Australian currency’s outlook, adding to existing bullish bets rather than trimming risk. While the data alone does not reveal what is driving the shift, the move in net positions highlights growing speculative interest and could have implications for AUD volatility and direction in the near term.

The shift indicates that market participants have grown more pessimistic on the Swiss currency compared with the previous reporting period, adding to an already notable net short stance. While the data does not provide the underlying drivers, the larger negative position underscores a strengthening consensus among speculators that the franc may face continued pressure in the near term.

The uptick in net long positioning signals that market participants are maintaining, and modestly expanding, their positive view on the peso. While the increase is incremental, it suggests that speculative investors remain inclined toward MXN, potentially reflecting ongoing confidence in Mexico’s macroeconomic backdrop and relative yield appeal in global currency markets.

The shift indicates that market participants have grown more cautious on the loonie, adding to net short positions rather than paring them back. While the change is incremental, the move from -14.7K to -16.2K suggests a modest but clear strengthening of pessimistic sentiment toward Canada’s currency in the current market environment.

The CFTC figures show that speculative net positions in wheat improved to -14.4K contracts from a previous level of -16.7K. While positioning remains net short, the reduction in bearish bets suggests that some traders have begun to pare back expectations for further downside in wheat prices or are taking profit on earlier short positions.

The shift in sentiment, though modest, will be closely watched by market participants as an early signal of changing speculative appetite in the U.S. wheat market, a key benchmark for global grain pricing.

The pullback suggests that some traders may be locking in profits or adopting a more cautious stance after the earlier buildup in bullish bets. While the net position remains firmly in positive territory, the moderation in speculative exposure could signal a reassessment of near-term price momentum in the U.S. soybean market. Market participants will be watching upcoming supply, demand, and weather developments closely to gauge whether this shift marks a brief pause or the start of a broader repositioning.

The increase in net long positions suggests that speculative traders are becoming more optimistic about silver’s price outlook. A higher net long figure typically reflects growing confidence that prices may continue to advance or remain supported in the near term, as more participants position for potential gains.

While the data do not disclose the specific drivers behind the move, the shift from 23.9K to 26.1K underscores steady, incremental bullish sentiment in the silver futures market, which market participants will be watching closely for signs of further momentum or a possible reversal in positioning.

The move reflects a further build-up in bearish sentiment among speculative market participants, with a larger negative reading indicating a stronger tilt towards expectations of potential downside in the benchmark U.S. equity index. While the data do not explain the drivers behind the shift, the scale of the increase in net shorts underscores a notable change in positioning compared with the prior reading.

Net speculative positions fell to -176.3K contracts from a previous -166.6K, indicating that hedge funds and other money managers have expanded their bearish bets on natural gas. A more negative net position reflects that short positions now further outweigh long positions in the market.

The shift suggests that speculative participants see continued downside risk or limited upside for U.S. natural gas prices in the near term, although the data alone do not explain the drivers behind the move. Investors will watch upcoming storage, weather, and demand figures to gauge whether this growing pessimism persists or begins to reverse.

The move signals a notable shift in market expectations for the U.S. tech-heavy index, as traders who were previously slightly optimistic are now positioning for downside or increased volatility. The scale of the swing suggests that speculative participants are reassessing the outlook for major growth and technology names that dominate the Nasdaq 100.

While the data alone does not explain the drivers behind the reversal, the abrupt change in positioning highlights rising caution among futures traders and could add to short-term pressure on the index if risk-off sentiment persists.

The gain in net long positions suggests that traders and money managers have become more optimistic about the gold market’s near-term prospects. While the data alone does not reveal the underlying drivers, the shift indicates a growing preference for bullish exposure to the precious metal relative to bearish bets.

The pullback suggests a marginal loss of confidence among speculators in further near-term upside for oil prices, or at least a move to lock in profits after earlier gains. While net positions remain firmly in positive territory, the reduction signals a more cautious stance as traders reassess demand prospects, geopolitical risks and the trajectory of global monetary policy. Market participants will be watching upcoming macroeconomic data and OPEC+ signals for clues on whether this cooling in speculative appetite proves temporary or marks the start of a broader repositioning in the energy space.

The reduction in net long positions suggests some investors are moderating their bullish outlook on corn, potentially reflecting a reassessment of price expectations or shifting risk appetite in the agricultural commodities space. While positioning remains firmly in positive territory, the pullback indicates a more cautious stance among speculators compared with the prior reporting period.

The expansion in net long positions suggests that traders and investors are positioning for further gains in copper prices, potentially reflecting expectations of resilient demand or tighter supply conditions. While the data itself does not explain the drivers behind the shift, the move from 62.8K to 76.3K underscores growing optimism in the copper market and could translate into heightened price volatility in the near term.

Market participants will be watching upcoming macroeconomic data and industrial indicators closely to see whether the momentum in speculative positioning is sustained or begins to unwind in the weeks ahead.

The modest reduction suggests a small pullback in bullish sentiment among speculators, though positioning remains in positive territory. The shift may reflect increased caution around near‑term price direction, with traders scaling back exposure rather than making a decisive move into net short territory.

While the adjustment is limited in size, the move will be closely watched by market participants as an incremental sign of changing risk appetite in the aluminium market, particularly if further data confirm a trend of gradually declining net long interest.

The increase in net long positions underscores a growing bullish bias toward the single currency among speculative traders. The shift suggests that market participants are becoming more confident in the Euro Zone’s outlook relative to other major currencies, with positioning moving deeper into positive territory compared with the prior reading.

While the data does not detail underlying drivers, the continued build-up in net longs signals that investors are increasingly inclined to back the euro in the near term, potentially reflecting expectations of supportive economic or policy developments within the bloc.

As of the updated data on 15 May 2026, GBP speculative net positions stood at -43.1K, compared with a previous reading of -63.9K. While positioning remains in negative territory, the smaller net short suggests that some traders are unwinding bearish bets or cautiously re-entering long exposure to sterling.

The shift may reflect changing expectations around the UK’s economic outlook or interest rate path, with market participants reassessing the balance of risks for the pound. Investors will now watch upcoming economic releases and central bank signals closely to see whether this trend toward reduced bearishness on GBP continues.