Russell 2000 COT Positioning
How large traders are positioned in Russell 2000 futures, straight from the weekly CFTC Commitments of Traders report. Updated within minutes of every Friday release.
What the positioning says
Leveraged funds are net short 109,499 contracts and added to that short position over the past week. That leaves positioning at the very bottom of its 52-week range — an extreme, washed-out reading that has historically been vulnerable to a reversal.
WAVG reads this the same way every week across every market, names the factors behind the bias, and flags when positioning reaches an extreme that has historically preceded a turn.
What moves Russell 2000 positioning
The E-mini Russell 2000 is the small-cap index, and its positioning is the market's clearest read on the domestic US economy and risk appetite. Small caps carry more debt and thinner margins, so they price in recession fear first and rally first on a soft-landing story.
It is driven by credit conditions, the growth outlook, and rate expectations (smaller firms are more exposed to floating-rate debt). When funds swing heavily short Russell while long the large-cap indices, it signals a defensive, narrow market.
This week's report
| Trader group | Long | Short | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leveraged funds | 52,898 | 162,397 | −109,499 |
| Asset managers | 156,116 | 138,618 | +17,498 |
| Dealers | 137,918 | 41,325 | +96,593 |
Contracts held long, short and net as of Sep 1, 2026 (published Sep 4, 2026). Source: CFTC.
See the full Russell 2000 analysis
Bias drivers, the 52-week history, price context and 20+ other markets. Free account, no card.