U.S. dollar net longs rise in latest week - CFTC, Reuters data

(Adds details about U.S (Other OTC: UBGXF - news) . dollar, euro contracts, paragraphs

3-9, adds table)

Dec 28 (Reuters) - Speculators raised bullish bets on the

U.S. dollar in the latest week, with net longs rising for the

first time in four weeks, according to Reuters calculations and

data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission released on

Monday.

The value of the dollar's net long position rose to $32.84

billion in the week ended Dec. 22, from $30.39 billion the

previous week. The prior week's figure was the lowest since

early November.

The latest dollar net long figure still remained low

compared to the figures over each weekly period between Nov.

17-Dec. 8, when net long dollars came in above $40 billion.

The increase in the net long dollar positioning came after

Dec. 16, when the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25

basis points, its first rate hike in nine years. The Fed's rate

increases are expected to boost the dollar by driving investment

flows into the United States.

For the year, the dollar index had risen 8.8 percent through

Dec. 22. The dollar index measures the greenback against

a basket of six major rivals.

In other contracts, speculators raised bearish bets on the

euro, as net shorts were increased after falling the previous

week to their lowest in about four weeks. The latest week's net

short euro contracts were 161,047, compared with 159,961 the

week before.

Net (LSE: 0LN0.L - news) short euro contracts had been steadily declining

especially in the wake of a smaller-than-expected stimulus move

from the European Central Bank early this month.

For the year, the euro was down 9.4 percent against the

dollar through Dec. 22.

The Reuters calculation for the aggregate U.S. dollar

position is derived from net positions of International Monetary

Market speculators in the yen, euro, sterling, Swiss franc and

Canadian and Australian dollars.

Japanese Yen (Contracts of 12,500,000 yen)

$3.136 billion

25 Dec 2015 Prior week

week

Long 37,677 37,301

Short 68,044 63,881

Net -30,367 -26,580

EURO (Contracts of 125,000 euros)

$22.051 billion

25 Dec 2015 Prior week

week

Long 70,509 71,295

Short 231,556 231,256

Net -161,047 -159,961

POUND STERLING (Contracts of 62,500 pounds sterling)

$2.47 billion

25 Dec 2015 Prior week

week

Long 42,075 39,121

Short 68,736 56,041

Net -26,661 -16,920

SWISS FRANC (Contracts of 125,000 Swiss francs)

$-0.349 billion

25 Dec 2015 Prior week

week

Long 27,646 29,710

Short 24,894 27,759

Net 2,752 1,951

CANADIAN DOLLAR (Contracts of 100,000 Canadian dollars)

$4.026 billion

25 Dec 2015 Prior week

week

Long 43,455 44,262

Short 99,482 95,271

Net -56,027 -51,009

AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR (Contracts of 100,000 Aussie dollars)

$1.509 billion

25 Dec 2015 Prior week

week

Long 49,122 61,956

Short 69,976 72,408

Net -20,854 -10,452

MEXICAN PESO (Contracts of 500,000 pesos)

$1.65 billion

25 Dec 2015 Prior week

week

Long 28,736 34,779

Short 85,455 95,151

Net -56,719 -60,372

NEW ZEALAND DOLLAR (Contracts of 100,000 New Zealand dollars)

$0.015 billion

25 Dec 2015 Prior week

week

Long 14,946 16,346

Short 15,167 15,227

Net -221 1,119

(Reporting by Sam Forgione; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and David

Gregorio)