Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures ended down 1.7 percent on Friday, tracking sharp declines in Shanghai futures, but the fall was limited by a weaker yen against the dollar. Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) futures, which set the tone for tyre rubber prices in Southeast Asia, fell from a 16-month high of 217.1 yen hit on Thursday. For the week, it rose 1.9 percent.
The Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for April delivery finished 3.6 yen lower at 209.5 yen ($1.89) per kg. The most-active rubber contract on the Shanghai futures exchange for January delivery fell 295 yuan to finish at 16,185 yuan ($2,349) per tonne. The contract on Monday hit 16,945 yuan, its highest since June 3, 2015. The front-month rubber contract on Singapore's SICOM exchange for December delivery last traded at 166 US cents per kg, down 5 cents.