Tokyo rubber futures ended lower on Friday as investors liquidated contracts on concerns over the global economy ahead of a much-awaited speech from the US Federal Reserve chief. The benchmark rubber contract on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange for February, which debuted on Friday, fell 1.3 yen from the opening to settle at 306.9 yen ($3.9) per kg.
The previous benchmark January contract fell 3.1 yen to finish at 359.0 yen per kg. The most-active rubber contract on Shanghai futures exchange for January fell 135 yuan to settle at 33,045 yuan ($5,171) per tonne.