TOKYO: Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures closed 1 percent higher on Monday to settle at a one-week high helped by a weaker yen, but the gains were limited by weak Chinese factory activity data.
Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) futures, which set the tone for tyre rubber prices in Southeast Asia, jumped more than 3 percent soon after the open on Friday, but the gains did not last long amid concerns about slowing economy in top consumer China.
China's manufacturing activity contracted at its fastest pace in almost three-and-a-half years in January, an official survey showed, suggesting the world's second largest economy is off to a weak start in 2016 and adding to the case for near-term stimulus.
The Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for July delivery <0#2JRU:> finished 1.7 yen higher at 160 yen per kg.
"Despite the gains, due to short-covering the market sentiment remains weak and it's still short of a full-fledged buying momentum," said a Tokyo-based dealer.
The U.S. dollar was quoted around 121.21 yen, as compared with 120.73 yen on Friday afternoon, keeping on the defensive after a surprise cut in Japanese interest rates.
The most-active rubber contract on the Shanghai futures exchange for May delivery fell 30 yuan to finish at 10,190 yuan per tonne, after trading mostly in the positive territory during the day.
The front-month rubber contract on Singapore's SICOM exchange for March delivery last traded at 110 U.S.cents per kg, up 1.3 cent.
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