SINGAPORE: Japanese rubber futures inched higher on Monday, tracking stronger Shanghai prices, although gains were capped as a hawkish stance from the US central bank fuelled fears of a global economic slowdown.

The Osaka Exchange rubber contract for February delivery was up 0.2 yen, or 0.1%, at 226.4 yen ($1.63) per kg, as of 0205 GMT.

The rubber contract on the Shanghai futures exchange for January delivery was up 240 yuan, or 1.9%, at 12,785 yuan ($1,848) per tonne. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei share average fell 2.27%.