FX.co ★ Speculators Deepen Bearish Bets on Australian Dollar as Net Shorts Widen to -40K

Speculative traders have increased their bearish positions on the Australian dollar, with CFTC AUD speculative net positions declining to -40.0K, down from -37.7K previously, according to data updated on 31 July 2026.

The move reflects a further build-up in net short contracts on the Aussie, signaling that market participants are becoming more cautious or pessimistic on the currency’s near-term prospects. The shift from -37.7K to -40.0K indicates an incremental but notable strengthening of negative sentiment in speculative positioning toward the Australian dollar.

While the data do not reveal the underlying drivers, the growing net short exposure suggests traders may be positioning around expectations for Australia’s macroeconomic outlook, interest rate differentials, or broader risk sentiment impacting commodity-linked currencies like the AUD.