COTCollector from Aronow Software

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COTCollector Features

What is COTCollector?

COTCollector is a utility which stores Commitments of Traders (COT) data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (http://www.cftc.gov) and can download updates from the CFTC website weekly when new COT data is released.  The weekly download can be automated via the Windows Task Scheduler.  Additionally ASCII export file sets (for use in other programs) can be defined and automatically updated after a data download to insure your ASCII files are kept up to date.

What is Commitments of Traders Data?

Every week the CFTC requires futures brokers to report positions to the CFTC for compilation into the commitments of traders dataset. For more information visit the CFTC COT Backgrounder here: http://www.cftc.gov/opa/backgrounder/opacot596.htm

Why should I care about Commitments of Traders Data?

COT data gives insight into the positions of different groups of traders, including commercial hedgers. While it varies from market to market and there are no hard and fast rules that apply to every contract, often the commercial hedgers will increase their net long exposure before a rally, and increase their net short exposure before a decline. The COT data is the only way to get this information. Remember that no matter how unique COT data is, it is only another tool in a trader's toolbox and it cannot and should not be used as anything more than one tool in your trading toolkit (and you should have a lot of tools!).

For an example of how COT data can be useful, click here.

For an example of how sometimes COT data can be meaningless, click here.

What makes COTCollector different than other COT data sources?

Traditional COT data sources come in the form of a monthly subscription plus an additional cost for historical data. COTCollector is available for a one-time fee with no monthly subscription. The fee is for the COTCollector software, not the COT data -- which is available for free from the CFTC website. As new COT data is posted every week on the CFTC website, COTCollector downloads the data directly to your PC, cutting out the middleman and reducing your monthly trading costs.

COTCollector also provides ALL COT data available from the CFTC. Many providers only provide specific fields, determining for you which fields are the most important. COTCollector lets you decide which data fields you want to use.

COTCollector Features

• COTCollector's database is pre-loaded with COT data going back to 1986 for currently traded futures contracts.
• Schedule an automated update every week when COT data is updated on the CFTC website.
• Create highly configurable ASCII export file sets that run on demand or automatically after a scheduled update.
• Export using exchange symbols or any number of user defined symbol aliases. This allows the generation of different export folders using symbols for specific data providers. The ASCII data files can then be accessed from any software that supports ASCII data files, such as Tradestation, Wealth-Lab, etc.
•   Processes data for the new Disaggregated futures report
•  Processes data for Futures, Futures + Options Combined, and the Supplemental COT report
•   Metastock format exports
•   Updates for the new Russell 2000 ICE contracts
•   Licensing updated so a hardware key is no longer needed
•   Fully Vista compatible
•   COTCollector settings are now stored separately from COT data
•   New MDI user interface
•   Import of settings from COTCollector 2.x

COTCollector Pricing

A COTCollector full license is $79. This includes technical support and any future product upgrades. There is NOT a monthly fee -- the license fee is a one time fee. To purchase COTCollector, click the "Buy Now" button on the COTCollector.com Home Page

COTCollector Supported Symbols*:

*Note: Listed symbols are supported by COTCollector but due to the CFTC requirements data may not be available for each symbol every week. The CFTC does not report data if the open interest falls below a certain threshold and thus COTCollector cannot obtain data if it is not available.