Thai rubber futures edged lower in thin trade on Friday, with overall volume dropping to 34 contracts of ribbed smoked sheet number three (RSS3) from 54 contracts on Thursday. The most active September contract settled at 49.9 baht per kg, down from 50.1 baht, with the number of contracts traded falling to 16 from 31. "A lack of fundamental factors and fresh demand from key buyers pressured prices," said one broker.
The price of unsmoked sheet number three (USS3), the raw material for export-grade rubber sheet, traded at 46.83 baht/kg, slightly up from Thursday's 46.81 baht. On Thailand's Hat Yai physical market, RSS3 was at 48.41 baht/kg, up from 48.31 baht on Thursday.
Singapore's SICOM was closed on Friday for the Easter holiday, with trading due to resume on Monday. The RSS3 April contract was quoted on SICOM at $1.31/kg.