Thai rubber futures ended mixed in sluggish trade on Tuesday as players speculated on deferred contracts, dealers said.
The most-active December contract ended at 53.7 baht per kg, down from 53.8 baht on Monday. The volume of contracts traded dropped to 33 from 76 on Monday. Overall volume fell to 73 RSS3 contracts traded on Tuesday from a record 146 contracts on Monday.
"Some speculators bought contracts on expectations of a further price rise," said one broker. "Others took profits". Brokers expected prices to rise this week on tight supplies related to bad weather and unrest in rubber-growing areas.
Thailand's Muslim-dominated south, the country's key rubber producing region, has been gripped by violence since January and many rubber tapers are afraid to work.
In Thailand's Hat Yai physical market, RSS for spot contract was quoted at 54.1 baht per kg, up from 53.9 on Monday.
The RSS3 September contract on Singapore's SICOM was at $1.35 per kg, versus on Monday's $1.34. Thailand, the world biggest rubber producer and exporter, launched its first commodity futures exchange on May 28, allowing brokers to trade ribbed smoked sheet number 3 (RSS3).
Trading hours are 10.30 am-12.00 pm(0330-0500 GMT) with September, October, November and December of RSS3 contracts offered.
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