Tokyo rubber futures ended lower on Tuesday, tracking falls in stocks markets, while profit-taking and position-adjusting ahead of the year-end holidays helped push prices down, dealers said. The benchmark rubber contract on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange for June delivery fell 4.9 yen to settle at 271.5 yen ($3.48) per kg.
"Players adjusted their positions so it was a combination of profit-taking and stop-loss selling ahead of the year-end holidays by small investors that dragged prices down," one dealer said.
Dealers said TOCOM prices were expected to rebound later next week and prices would rise above a key support level of 270 yen per kg. Limited supply in major producing countries should lend support, they said.