New CFTC report may raise transparency, questions

NEW YORK (Reuters) – More transparency or too much information?

Energy traders, analysts and mom-and-pop farmers may find themselves swimming in detail on the big bets and hedges in the commodity markets, when the U.S. futures market regulator overhauls its widely-watched report on trader positions.

To help level the playing field between funds, commercial players and smaller participants, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission will break down positions by producers, merchants, swap dealers and hedge funds in its Commitments of Traders report, released every Friday afternoon.

The agency has pledged to issue the expanded report by the end of the month, which gives it until Monday.

Some questions, at least initially: What will the revamped report reveal? How well will it shed light on positions held on overseas exchanges? How easy will it be to compare the new categories with the old report?

Reuters