Key Tokyo rubber futures edged higher on Thursday, supported by a weaker yen and rising oil prices, though they were capped by a sluggish Shanghai market and caution over a recent spike in prices. The key Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for September delivery settled at 458.6 yen per kg, up 0.7 yen from Wednesday's settlement. The contract rose as high as 464.8 yen, just below Tuesday's peak of 466.8 yen, its highest since March 7.
The most active Shanghai rubber contract for September delivery fell 150 yuan to close at 35,790 yuan ($5,469) per tonne on Thursday. Volume dropped to 448,114 lots from Wednesday's 597,070 lots. Technical analysts have said that while supply concerns due to a flood in No 1 producer Thailand are underpinning the market in the near-term, the dry season will end soon and supply is expected to pick up while demand outlook is still unclear as Japanese auto production has been disrupted by last month's devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. An analyst at a Japanese securities firm said a top-heavy Shanghai rubber market was also weighing on sentiment.