Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures ended up 0.5 percent on Wednesday, snapping a two-day decline, buoyed by better-than-expected Chinese factory activity data that eased worries over weak rubber demand from the world's top consumer. Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) futures, which set the tone for tyre rubber prices in Southeast Asia, rose as much as 2.3 percent, but the gains were pared by the close due to weakness in Shanghai futures.
The Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for August delivery finished 1 yen higher at 214.5 yen per kg.The Shanghai futures exchange returned from a week-long holidays, with the most-active rubber contract for May delivery falling 10 yuan to finish at 13,880 yuan per tonne. The front-month rubber contract on Singapore's SICOM exchange for March delivery last traded at 137.70 US cents per kg, down 1.9 cent.