Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures ended lower for a fourth straight session on Friday after touching their highest since September 2011 earlier this week as supply worries following floods in key production areas eased. The Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for July delivery finished 9.1 yen lower at 301 yen per kg, the lowest settlement since January 25. For the week, it fell 9.1 percent.
The most-active rubber contract on the Shanghai futures exchange for May delivery fell 825 yuan to finish at 20,175 yuan ($2,937) per tonne. The front-month rubber contract on Singapore's SICOM exchange for March delivery last traded at 218 US cents per kg, down 11 cents. TOCOM was also pressured by the decline in Shanghai futures after Beijing unexpectedly raised short-term interest rates, adding to growing concerns about US President Donald Trump's aggressive policies.