Key Tokyo rubber futures logged their largest monthly loss since November 2008 in April as last month's massive Japan earthquake and tsunami slashed auto output, though they rose 2.8 percent on Thursday on firm oil and commodity prices and a weaker yen.
The benchmark TOCOM rubber futures for October delivery rose as high as 394 yen, up 4 percent, before settling at 389.1 yen per kg, up 10.5 yen or 2.8 percent from Wednesday's settlement. The market ended the week down 7 percent and was down 10 percent on the month, the biggest monthly decline since a 25 percent drop in November 2008.