Speculative traders increased their bearish exposure to U.S. equities, with net short positions in S&P 500 futures widening further, according to the latest Commitments of Traders data released on 29 May 2026. CFTC figures show that S&P 500 speculative net positions declined from -140.6K contracts previously to -165.8K contracts, indicating a notable build-up in short interest.
The shift suggests that market participants are becoming more cautious on the near-term outlook for the U.S. stock market, adding to downside bets despite the index’s role as a benchmark for broader risk sentiment. The deeper negative reading in speculative net positions highlights that professional traders are positioning more defensively, potentially reflecting concerns over valuation, earnings momentum, or macroeconomic uncertainty in the United States.
While net short positioning does not guarantee further market weakness, the move from -140.6K to -165.8K contracts underscores a growing divergence between speculative futures flows and any underlying optimism in the cash equity market. Investors will be watching subsequent CFTC releases closely to see whether this bearish stance persists or begins to unwind in the coming weeks.
