Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures snapped three days of gains to head lower on Tuesday, pulling back from a 10-month high, as investors took profit ahead of the week-long Lunar New Year holiday in China that starts on Wednesday. The Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) rubber contract for July delivery finished at 218.4 yen ($2) per kg, down 1.5 percent, or 3.3 yen.
The most-active rubber contract on the Shanghai futures exchange for May delivery fell 150 yuan to finish at 13,875 yuan ($2,218) per tonne. Chinese markets will be shut for a week from Wednesday for the break.
The front-month rubber contract on Singapore's SICOM exchange for March delivery last traded at 143.8 US cents per kg, up 0.4 cent. SICOM will close early on Wednesday and remain closed on Thursday and Friday.