2026.08.2819:30:00UTC+00Speculators Flip to Net Long on Nasdaq 100 Futures as CFTC Data Shows Sharp Sentiment Reversal

Speculative traders have shifted decisively in favor of the Nasdaq 100, with the latest CFTC data showing net long positions of 10.0K contracts in the United States, up from a previous net short of -10.4K. The move marks a significant reversal in sentiment toward the tech-heavy index.

The data, updated on 28 August 2026, indicates that market participants who had been positioned against the Nasdaq 100 are now broadly betting on further gains. The swing of more than 20K contracts from net short to net long suggests growing confidence in the index’s outlook, potentially reflecting changing expectations around growth, earnings prospects, or broader risk appetite in U.S. equity markets.

This shift in speculative positioning will be closely watched by investors, as changes in futures market sentiment can often foreshadow shifts in volatility and trend direction in the underlying index.