Tokyo rubber futures slipped on Friday as weak Chinese data encouraged investors to liquidate contracts ahead of the weekend, but firm oil prices still lent support, dealers said. The Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for February delivery was down 1.3 yen to settle at 198.3 yen ($1.91) per kg. "Weak Chinese data signalled falls in rubber demand in the world's biggest rubber consumer and encouraged investors to sell contracts to avoid risks ahead of the weekend," said a Bangkok-based dealer.
Activity in China's vast factory sector likely weakened in August as demand faltered, a Reuters poll showed on Thursday, reinforcing expectations that further policy steps may be needed to keep economic growth on track. The most-active rubber contract on the Shanghai futures exchange for January delivery fell 185 yuan to finish at 14,490 yuan ($2,357) per tonne. The front-month rubber contract on Singapore's SICOM exchange for September delivery was last traded at 162.9 US cents per kg, down 1.5 cents.
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