Crude oil market intelligence
WTI crude oil reflects global supply, inventories, and growth expectations. PositionAlpha maps COT, seasonality, and regimes for oil — free to explore.
Why crude oil matters
Crude oil is the world’s most watched energy benchmark. Prices respond to OPEC+ policy, U.S. inventory prints, refining margins, geopolitics, and global growth. Futures positioning among commercials (producers, refiners, merchants) and money managers often leads narrative headlines: commercials hedge physical exposure while large specs express macro views. Seasonality also matters — driving seasons, heating demand, and maintenance cycles leave statistical footprints.
What we track on PositionAlpha
Oil is available as a free asset. We publish COT-derived scores, seasonal tendencies, and regime readings so you can see whether positioning and calendar patterns align with the current trend. The public overview below is meant for research and education; the signed-in app unlocks charts, condition breakdowns, and tools to combine oil with other markets.
How to use this page
Scan the live snapshot, follow Learn articles on open interest and COT, then open oil in the dashboard when you want the full analytical workspace. Trading energy futures involves high volatility and substantial risk of loss.