Tokyo rubber futures rose on Wednesday as optimism about a solution to Greece's debt problems helped soothe worries about the global economy and the outlook for demand, and firmer oil prices provided additional support, dealers said. The benchmark rubber contract on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange for December delivery rose 10.5 yen, or 3 percent, to settle at 357.8 yen ($4.412) per kg.
It rose to an intra-day high of 358.2 yen, the highest since June 24. The most active Shanghai rubber contract for September delivery rose 360 yuan to finish at 31,060 yuan ($4,800) per tonne. "Players and funds started buying again as concern over Greece's debt eased," one dealer said.
The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) revised up its forecast for global natural rubber production this year to 9.96 million tonnes, slightly higher than a previous estimate of 9.94 million tonnes due to an upward revision for second-largest producer Indonesia.