Money managers have turned net-bullish on cotton as surging oil prices tied to the war in Iran boost the appeal of natural fiber over increasingly expensive synthetics. Long positions on New York cotton outnumbered short ones by 16,825 contracts in the week ended April 14, according to data published Friday by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. That reverses a sustained net-short positio...
Money managers have turned net-bullish on cotton as surging oil prices tied to the war in Iran boost the appeal of natural fiber over increasingly expensive synthetics. Long positions on New York cotton outnumbered short ones by 16,825 contracts in the week ended April 14, according to data published Friday by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. That reverses a sustained net-short position since April 2024. The US-Israeli war on Iran has lifted energy prices and, with them, the cost of oil-based synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon. That shift is improving cotton’s competitiveness, according to Bin Hui Ong, a commodities analyst at BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, with most-active futures climbing for the past six weeks. Asian mills in particular depend heavily on the Gulf region for feedstock used in chemical fibers, and the rising costs may push textile manufacturers to adjust blends to incorporate more cotton. Supply risks are also adding to the rally, with rising fertilizer costs driven by the conflict threatening to curb planting and cut output in the next crop cycle. The global cotton market is projected to swing into a deficit of about 295,000 tons in the 2026-27 season, analysis firm Cotlook forecast in March, and ongoing drought in the US cotton belt has stoked uncertainty over the country’s production. Cotton futures have climbed about 22% since the start of the war and are trading near two-year highs. That rally may have legs even if crude prices slide, Ong said. “Even if oil related support fades, we expect cotton prices to remain well supported as the supply side optimism that weighed on prices through 2025 continues to unwind,” she said, adding that ample buffer stocks may cap the upside. The new net-long position, which was the most bullish in about two years, comes after long-only positions rose to 56,736 lots and short positions fell to a 23-month low, according to the CFTC data.
shank_ali/iStock via Getty Images The homebuilding sector is moving into focus following QXO’s agreement to acquire TopBuild for approximately $17 billion, a move signaling robust confidence in the long-term housing market. While the merger highlights the sector's potential for more efficient supply chains, the Seeking Alpha Quant system remains highly selective. Only two industry leaders currentl...
shank_ali/iStock via Getty Images The homebuilding sector is moving into focus following QXO’s agreement to acquire TopBuild for approximately $17 billion, a move signaling robust confidence in the long-term housing market. While the merger highlights the sector's potential for more efficient supply chains, the Seeking Alpha Quant system remains highly selective. Only two industry leaders currently carry 'Buy' ratings based on profitability and momentum, while the majority of the sector, including major players like D.R. Horton ( DHI ) and Lennar ( LEN ) retains a 'Hold' ratings. Top-Rated Homebuilders (Buy): Champion Homes ( SKY ) - Buy (Quant Score: 3.64 /5) Hovnanian Enterprises ( HOV ) - Buy (Quant Score: 3.53 /5) Other Homebuilder Ratings (Hold): Tri Pointe Homes ( TPH ) - Hold (Quant Score: 3.13 /5) Installed Building Products ( IBP ) - Hold (Quant Score: 2.91 /5) Toll Brothers ( TOL ) - Hold (Quant Score: 2.87 /5) M/I Homes ( MHO ) - Hold (Quant Score: 2.79 /5) Legacy Housing ( LEGH ) - Hold (Quant Score: 2.79 /5) NVR, Inc. ( NVR ) - Hold (Quant Score: 2.77 /5) Taylor Morrison Home ( TMHC ) - Hold (Quant Score: 2.74 /5) D.R. Horton ( DHI ) - Hold (Quant Score: 2.73 /5) Lennar Corporation ( LEN ) - Hold (Quant Score: 2.72 /5) Green Brick Partners ( GRBK ) - Hold (Quant Score: 2.72 /5) PulteGroup, Inc. ( PHM ) - Hold (Quant Score: 2.71 /5) Beazer Homes USA ( BZH ) - Hold (Quant Score: 2.71 /5) KB Home ( KBH ) - Hold (Quant Score: 2.65 /5) More on homebuilding stocks TopBuild's Plunge Isn't Time For An Upgrade Champion Homes: A Structural Opportunity Facing Cyclical Headwinds QXO Inc.: A $30 Billion Dream Still Waiting For Execution QXO agrees to buy TopBuild in $17B building products deal Top mid to large cap U.S. homebuilding stocks by Quant rating as builder sentiment falls
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These Are The Top Trade Partners Of Every European Country Germany sits at the center of Europe’s trade network, but it is not the only global force shaping the continent’s economy. This map, via Visual Capitalist's Gabriel Cohen, highlights the top trading partner of each European country based on International Monetary Fund data for Q1-Q3 2025. Europe’s nearly $30 trillion economy is diverse and...
These Are The Top Trade Partners Of Every European Country Germany sits at the center of Europe’s trade network, but it is not the only global force shaping the continent’s economy. This map, via Visual Capitalist's Gabriel Cohen, highlights the top trading partner of each European country based on International Monetary Fund data for Q1-Q3 2025. Europe’s nearly $30 trillion economy is diverse and spans sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and agriculture, yet nearly half of all European countries rely on the same major trading partner for their imports and exports. Germany: The Center of Europe Germany is the top trade partner for 19 European countries, more than six times as many as the next closest countries, which each count just three. This dominance reflects Germany’s central role in European manufacturing, supply chains, and intra-EU trade. The table below shows how many European countries rely on each nation as their top trade partner, highlighting Germany’s outsized role in the region. The Dutch, French, and Italian economies, among others, are closely linked to Germany, which is a major industrial player and consumer of primary goods ranging from crude oil to agricultural products. German cars and other high-value exports, meanwhile, have found success across European markets, especially within the 27-member European Union. The following table shows each European country’s largest trade partner. While Germany is Europe’s trade giant, its own largest trade partner is the Netherlands. The two countries have an annual trading relationship worth more than $200 billion , marked by extensive economic integration and joint supply chains. The Netherlands, home to Europe’s largest seaport at Rotterdam, is also the main trade partner of neighboring Belgium, with which it forms part of the Benelux union. Europe’s Other Top Trading Partners Many European countries trade most with their largest neighboring country. For example, Malta’s main trade partner is Italy. Po...