Hedge funds cut crude bets following worst drop from 2008

Hedge funds increased their net-long position in WTI oil by 12% in the previous week, thus cutting oil bets, the CFTC reported. WTI lost 4.3%, or $2.04, to $45.89 a barrel during the trading session, in the period of CFTC report, reaching to $44.20 on January 13, the weakest level since 2009. Futures climbed to $48.69 on Friday, heading to 0.7% advance for the week.