TOKYO, Feb 13 (Reuters) – Tokyo rubber futures rose 2.1 percent on Friday, rebounding on the back of speculative buying and supported by rises in Shanghai rubber futures, traders said.
But trading volume remained thin as the market lacked clear direction and weak oil prices still weighed on sentiment, they said.
* The benchmark rubber contract on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange <0#JRU:> for July delivery rose 3 yen, or 2.1 percent, to end at 143.6 yen ($1.59) per kg, off a high of 145.5 yen but rebounding from a low of 139.5 yen.
* Traders said rubber prices were capped by thin demand and reluctance by players to buy aggressively, with sentiment weighed down by oil prices hovering below $35 a barrel.
* Tokyo rubber futures hit a a one-week low of 137.8 yen on Thursday.
* The benchmark Shanghai May rubber futures contract rose by its 5 percent daily limit to 14,030 yuan per tonne on Friday.
* Chinese buyers have been buying to replenish stocks, but they have turned their backs on Thai grades after tight supplies lifted prices, dealers have said.
* The wintering dry season also keeps supplies tight, making investors cautious about buying.
* Asian physical prices rose, supported by rising futures prices and demand from China, as well as limited supply due to the dry season in key producing countries. Traders said Chinese buyers continued to buy small lots of rubber.

PRICES OF ASIAN PHYSICAL RUBBER COMPARED WITH THURSDAY
Grade Price Change
Thai RSS3 (Mar) $1.52/kg +$0.02
Thai RSS3 (Apr) $1.52/kg +$0.02
Thai STR20 (Mar) $1.40/kg +$0.02
Thai STR20 (Apr) $1.40/kg +$0.02
Malaysia SMR20 (Mar) $1.40/kg +$0.02
Malaysia SMR20 (Apr) $1.40/kg +$0.02
Indonesia SIR20 (Mar) $0.60/lb +$0.01
Indonesia SIR20 (Apr) $0.60/lb +$0.01
Thai USS3 47 baht/kg +1 baht
Thai 60-percent latex (drums, Mar) $1,220/tonne +$20
Thai 60-percent latex (bulk, Mar) $1,100/tonne +$20

Source: Reuters

TOKYO, Feb 12 (Reuters) – Key Tokyo rubber futures finished lower on Thursday, ending a six-day rally to touch a one-week low, as cautious investors refrained from betting heavily in either direction.
* The key Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for July delivery <0#JRU:> finished at 140.6 yen per kg, down 4.2 yen, or about 3 percent from Tuesday, after earlier sinking to an intraday trough of 137.8 yen, the lowest level since Feb. 4.
* TOCOM was closed on Wednesday for a national holiday.
* Prices have mostly stayed in a narrow range on both sides of 140 yen for the past month as investors remained cautious about moves to support prices by rubber producers, particularly the world’s top three, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia.
* “The line of resistance is around 145 yen, with both buyers and sellers cautious about moves from producers to prop up prices,” a Tokyo-based broker said.
* The three top producers agreed in December to cut exports by 915,000 tonnes in 2009 to support prices which have halved since a 56-year high in July.
* NYMEX crude for March delivery edged up above $36 a barrel on Thursday. It fell over 4 percent overnight, following data that showed a jump in crude stocks and after the International Energy Agency said demand would stay weak. [O/R]
* Chinese buyers bought up to 2,500 tonnes of rubber from Indonesia to replenish stocks but turned their backs on Thai grades after tight supplies lifted prices, dealers said on Wednesday. [ID:nSP419303]
* China imported 60,000 tonnes of natural rubber in January, a sharp 65 percent fall from a year earlier, the General Administration of Customs said on Wednesday. [ID:nSHA42920]
* Asian physical prices fell, reflecting the weakness on TOCOM, but prices drew support from the seasonal decline in rubber supplies.
PRICES OF ASIAN PHYSICAL RUBBER COMPARED WITH WEDNESDAY
Grade Price Change
Thai RSS3 (Mar) $1.50/kg -$0.02
Thai RSS3 (Apr) $1.50/kg -$0.02
Thai STR20 (Mar) $1.38/kg -$0.04
Thai STR20 (Apr) $1.38/kg -$0.04
Malaysia SMR20 (Mar) $1.38/kg -$0.02
Malaysia SMR20 (Apr) $1.38/kg -$0.02
Indonesia SIR20 (Mar) $0.59/lb -$0.01
Indonesia SIR20 (Apr) $0.59/lb -$0.01
Thai USS3 46 baht/kg -1 baht
Thai 60-percent latex (drums, Mar) $1,200/tonne unchanged
Thai 60-percent latex (bulk, Mar) $1,080/tonne unchanged

Source: Reuters

[Dow Jones] Physical prices of Thai USS3 rubber rise slightly due to reduced tapping operations as eastern, southern plantations enter wintering season, says trader. Adds however, sluggish global demand means supply, demand evenly balanced, so strong gains in prices not expected. Thai wintering season generally lasts around April. Thai USS3 traded on Hat Yai Central Market at THB46.51/kg vs THB46.00/kg yesterday. (ANJ)

Source: Dow Jones

Tocom rubber futures settle mostly a tad lower in very thin, rangebound trade with participants opting for sidelines amid general lack of firm leads, trader says. Adds focus remains firmly on demand side; Chinese in spot market every day, but cash prices have been holding steady, indicative that supply and demand are relatively evenly balanced – despite the onset of the wintering season; Tocom expected to remain in narrow Y141-Y150 range in coming sessions, pending fresh leads, trader says. Benchmark July RSS3 contract settles Y0.3 higher at Y144.8/kg. (ANJ)

Source: Dow Jones

 TOKYO, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The Asian physical rubber market
held firm on Monday as traders watched buying by the world's
biggest consumer China, but trade was subdued with two of the top
three producers -- Malaysia and Thailand -- on holiday.

 Chinese consumers struck deals to buy more than 3,000 tonnes
of rubber for prompt shipment on Friday as the post-Lunar New
Year buying spree continued.

 China was short of material after many buyers defaulted on
shipments late last year as cash prices tumbled from a 56-year
high above $3 a kg hit in July, and they returned to the market
to take advantage of a price drop that accompanied the global
economic downturn. [ID:nSP96611]

 "There seem to be various reasons for the Chinese buying,"
said a dealer at a Japanese trading firm.

 "Some may be buying despite having inventories, others may
really be short of supply, and still others may be buying on
anticipation that the Shanghai market will extend its gains," he
said.

 Traders said how far the rubber market can extend gains will
also depend on how other commodities and financial markets react
to the U.S. government's economic stimulus measures, due out on
Tuesday.

 The market was also supported as the wintering dry season
which typically starts in eastern Thailand at the end of January,
sets in, propping up prices for rubber from the world's top
producer.

 PRICES OF ASIAN PHYSICAL RUBBER COMPARED WITH FRIDAY

 Grade                                Price         Change

 Thai RSS3 (Mar)                        N/A           N/A

 Thai RSS3 (Apr)                        N/A           N/A

 Thai STR20 (Mar)                       N/A           N/A

 Thai STR20 (Apr)                       N/A           N/A

 Malaysia SMR20 (Mar)                   N/A           N/A

 Malaysia SMR20 (Apr)                   N/A           N/A

 Indonesia SIR20 (Mar)                  N/A           N/A

 Indonesia SIR20 (Apr)                  N/A           N/A

 Thai USS3                              N/A           N/A

 Thai 60-percent latex (drums, Mar)     N/A           N/A

 Thai 60-percent latex (bulk, Mar)      N/A           N/A

 ** NOTE - The prices quoted above are offer prices collected
from traders in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. They are not
official prices quoted by state-run rubber agencies in those
countries.

Source: Reuters