The Commitments of Traders Bible: How To Profit from Insider Market Intelligence By Stephen Briese
$22.58
The Commitments of Traders Bible: How to Profit from Insider Market Intelligence is a guide to reading and applying Commitments of Traders (COT) reports. Briese explains the reports’ history, trader classifications, and position data before developing measures for comparing activity across markets and time.
The book examines net positions, the COT Index, and the COT Movement Index. It challenges simple rules such as always following commercial traders or fading small speculators, and discusses how positioning data can be tested alongside chart patterns and technical indicators.
Its second part applies COT analysis to currencies, stock indexes, metals, petroleum, interest rates, grains, livestock, and other commodities. Historical charts and market-specific discussions show why trader categories and hedging behavior require context.
The book is suited to futures traders and analysts who want a systematic approach to positioning data. Its value lies in interpreting what a COT measure represents, where it may help, and where the data can mislead.
✅ What You’ll Learn
- Read the long, short, and supplemental COT reports.
- Distinguish commercial hedgers, large speculators, index traders, and small traders.
- Construct and interpret net position charts.
- Calculate and assess the COT Index and COT Movement Index.
- Question common assumptions about following or fading trader groups.
- Combine positioning data with chart patterns and technical indicators.
- Compare COT behavior across major futures markets.
- Recognize reporting and interpretation pitfalls in COT data.
đź’ˇ Key Benefits
- Establishes a detailed foundation for using publicly reported trader positions.
- Replaces simplistic positioning rules with market-specific analysis.
- Provides measures that help compare positioning across different periods.
- Extends the method across financial and physical commodity futures.
- Includes historical examples, references, and appendices for further study.
👤 Who This Book Is For
- Intermediate to advanced futures traders incorporating positioning data.
- Commodity traders assessing commercial hedging and speculative activity.
- Currency, stock index, and interest-rate futures analysts.
- Technical traders seeking another source of evidence for chart interpretation.
đź“š Table of Contents
- The COT—Assorted History
- COT Reports—Counting 1, 2, 3 . . .
- Player Introductions
- Fading Small Speculators and Other Half-Baked Schemes
- Net Positions
- The COT Index
- COT Movement Index
- View from the Gallery
- View from the Pits
- Chart Pattern Validation
- Getting Technical
- Crossing Currencies
- Taking Stock
- Test of Metal
- Oil’s Slick
- Interest in Rates
- Bean Counting
- Moonlighting
- Cedeless Oranges
- Now You CIT, Now You Don’t
The Commitments of Traders Bible: How To Profit from Insider Market Intelligence By Stephen Briese
| Author(s) | |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Ebook |
| Format | |
| Skill Level | Intermediate to Advanced |
| Pages | 305 |
| Publication Year | 2008 |
| Delivery | Instant Download |
22 reviews for The Commitments of Traders Bible: How To Profit from Insider Market Intelligence By Stephen Briese
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Carl Burnett (verified owner) –
The content may seem complicated, but measured by the complexity of the connections in a COT report, the author has achieved an outstanding achievement. The details are not only very well explained, but the writing style is also fun.
On websites, information about COT is often presented in a simplified (and correspondingly incomplete) manner; this book is the best example of how you can’t find/get everything on the Internet.
A tiny downside arises from the fact that “only” the Legacy Report or its basis is discussed and the “new” TIFF report is left out, but with your own transfer effort, you can also elicit valuable information from it.
For me, the most valuable book on the subject of futures trading!
Yareli Osborne (verified owner) –
Probably it’s to much complicated. On COT report , my favourite is the one made by Larry Williams
Azrael Cannon (verified owner) –
reading the book made me clear and simple concepts to me first unknown.
I apply what I learn in a personal way, it’s amazing!
Esme Hancock (verified owner) –
Published over a decade ago, ever piece of information remains completely relevant, if not more so. Steve Briese has led the way in understanding Commitment of Traders Data. His experience and understanding is second to none. He clearly shows you how to prepare for big moves in all the the key markets. I thoroughly recommend this book.
Madison Suarez (verified owner) –
You will learn how is the sirious world of tranding linked to the stock market. It is not easy of reading and I only recomend it if you have a good knowledge of math (statistics) and if you deal or a planning to do with the stock in commodities.
Madilyn Torres (verified owner) –
The Committment of Traders data should be important information for every position trader. Briese is the guy to go to to learn how to interpret this information to help to make trading and investing decisions. I’ve been trading for over 20 years and am very familiar with the COT data but learned something new from this book and highly recommend it to every trader.
Rex Bates (verified owner) –
I found myself refering back to this book more than once even after reading it cover to cover. It’s a great resource for those looking to better understand the world of COT data.
Alivia Crawford (verified owner) –
Author Briese (pronounced “breezy”) defends the provocative thesis that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly “Commitment of Traders” report, which tracks the long and short positions of professionals and commercials on organized futures exchanges, provides “insider information” that investors can use. Writing in the style of your favorite college lecturer who will always take time out for a good joke (e.g., “The easiest way to make a small fortune trading commodities is to start with a large fortune”), Briese takes the reader by the hand and painstakingly instructs him in the use of this information.
Augustus Bautista (verified owner) –
As a former editor of Futures Magazine, I have read a lot of trading books and find Briese’s “bible” a great resource for analyzing the actions of commercials, the real drivers in many markets. Evaluating the meaning of the COT report requires more than just looking at the numbers. Briese’s long experience in this area makes him one of the best I know for analyzing and interpreting the significance of buying and selling patterns of various market participants. This book provides a necessary basic background to understand what COT positions reveal, but you really need to also get Briese’s weekly Bullish Review newsletter to see how he applies this knowledge to current market situations. Knowing what the big money is doing won’t guarantee trading success, but insight into what is happening to their positions relative to current price charts and cycles can be very helpful for individual traders.
Jayden Good (verified owner) –
Mr. Briese has done an excellent job of summing up his vast experience with the Commitments of Traders data and presenting it clearly, without compromises.
The proper application of COT signals is an edge over the market – many studies show this, including my dissertation work.
But I have to warn everybody (like Mr. Briese does several times in his book) who thinks that this is the holy grail of trading. Many times the trader is faced with situations that are far from straightforward, so proper interpretation of COT data demands experience. The experience this book contains is of a man who analyzed these data from the beginnings and have personally lived through and traded the bull and bear markets of the past 35 years.
Like your library (independent of your religion) contains a copy of the Holy Bible, the trading books shelf (independent of your trading style) cannot be complete without the Commitments of Traders Bible.
Esteban Thompson (verified owner) –
I still remember the impact Steve Briese’a ideas had on me when I first encountered them a dozen years ago. There are three groups of futures traders – hedgers (the true insiders!), big speculators (supposed to be smart but not always…), and the rest – small specs. The US government publishes reports about their relative positions. When you see a situation where the bulk of hedgers is squaring off against the bulk of small specs, you have the makings of an explosive move. In whose favor? Who do you think is likely to win – the insiders or the small fry?
This analysis is further complicated by the fact that hedgers tend to be on the short side of the market (you may want to look up my latest book Sell & Sell Short). Briese discovers their true bias by comparing their current position to the historical norm. A beginner may look at the numbers, see that hedgers are 70% bearish and decide that the insiders expect a decline. In fact, if their bearish norm in this market is 90%, then 70% is wildly bullish!
Briese’s book covers everything you need to know about COT )Commitments of Traders Reports) – including technical patterns, currencies, metals, oil, and much more. If you trade futures, you sure need this book!
I like Briese’s breezy writing style (pardon the pun!) but dislike the arrogant title of the book. I know of only one Bible, and Briese is definitely not its author. This minor quibble aside, I highly recommend his book to every serious futures trader.
Kevin Daugherty (verified owner) –
the core is to predict long term trend through the position changes of different participants. that can be explained in a few pages. other that that, there are caveats specific to different markets. it would require a lot more experience and sound fundamental analysis. the author wasted over than 300 pages without touch these.
what a waste of money. i didn’t buy it. i viewed another copy and returned it.
Gideon Singleton (verified owner) –
Perfect
Christian Pennington (verified owner) –
Happy with this product and received in a timely manner.
Soren Velasquez (verified owner) –
A good read explains the use of the cot report
Noe Ochoa (verified owner) –
If you’re trading futures and would like to incorporate COT reports into your decision-making then this book is a must read
Magdalena Esparza (verified owner) –
Felt a bit old and dated for a modern technical trader. However there was some valuable insights, but I think the book shifted from talking about the psychology or positioning of the raw data, into talking about his personal COT indicators. While these indicators are interesting, they ended up becoming the focal point of the book until halfway through when he discusses the nuances of the data and indicators. As someone looking to use this as part of my overall strategy I found some of the signals he talks about to be inconsistent. Sometimes a sharp increase means it’s time to change positions…. Only when it’s not…. Although, despite some of these grievances, the first 1/3 of the book was interesting and offered ways to look at COT data (plotted onto an indicator) that goes beyond just the standard line crossing signals. For this I appreciate the book. And may be worth it, haven’t read other COT books yet to compare it to.
Antonella Xiong (verified owner) –
This was a difficult read for me personally in the begining. Not impossible, but not cotton candy filler b.s. either. Over time I began to understand the basic tenants and insights which were very valuable. Took about a years time to grasp the key points as I was newer to this business then.
All over the drop in Gold, Silver, and Oil… Check your charts for this date! Not for everybody though- just being honest…:
Noa Norris (verified owner) –
too much Chicago, not enough NY in this one. This is just 2 steps from chart reading. People can just make stuff up. The bottom line here is, look for discloation
Luciana Mack (verified owner) –
Received my book quickly and impeccable condition. Thank you
Faith Garrison (verified owner) –
If you have struggled with the nuances of the COT report, you will treasure this book. It clearly illustrates the crux of the matter which is price action and the reasons behind it. I would not recommend this for beginners, however. There is a subtlety in evaluating trend shifts and unless you have actually gotten your hands dirty digging into FX and traded for awhile could you appreciate the clarity of Steve Briese’s explanations. I have been an active Forex trader for over 5 years and this book I consider to be one of my most valuable on the subject. Forex is not a get rich quick vehicle. There is a steep learning curve as most FX traders will honestly tell you–but this market can be most rewarding for those who spend the time and effort to learn.
Emberly Morris (verified owner) –
This book is written with two parts. The first part is all you need. The first part provides the information on COT data and introduces several methods of calculating the COT index. One of the more interesting things is the move index used by the author.
Then the author, as if a reader has not already made up its mind to explore the usefullness of COT data, sets out to convince you with his analysis of research papers, charts and opinions. I think he would have done better to only publish the part 1. This would have made a more sucinct read and would have been more pointed.
But, to sell paper! I read the whole thing. You should too and maybe read it again.