Tokyo rubber futures slipped on Friday in long liquidation ahead of the weekend, erasing gains that lifted the key contract to a 14-week high the previous day, although underlying sentiment was believed to be firm. The benchmark July TOCOM rubber contract on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange closed down 0.7 yen per kg at 137.6 yen, down about 1.9 percent from the 14-week high of 140.2 yen marked on Thursday.
In the currency market the dollar held firm ahead of US unemployment figures due and a meeting of the Group of Seven rich countries in London on Friday and Saturday. The dollar was fetching 104.40/45 yen, mostly flat against 104.46/50 yen in late US trade.
Turnover in TOCOM rubber were light 18,321 contracts against 35,731 lots on Thursday.
Open interest stood at 40,176 lots as of the end of Thursday against 40,507 lots on Wednesday.