The benchmark Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) rubber contract for July delivery fell 0.4 yen, or 0.2 percent, to 178.7 yen ($1.63) per kg by 0105 GMT, weighed down by profit-taking after hitting a 1-1/2-week high earlier this week. TOCOM's technically specified rubber (TSR) 20 futures contract for August delivery was steady at 150.6 yen per kg.
Senior US and Chinese officials are poised to start another round of trade talks in Beijing next week to push for a deal to protect American intellectual property and avert a March 2 increase in US tariffs on Chinese goods, two people familiar with the plans said on Tuesday. The US dollar was quoted around 109.82 yen, compared with around 109.80 yen on Wednesday afternoon.
Oil prices edged higher for the first time in three sessions on Wednesday, although concerns over the outlook for the global economy capped gains. Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock average was up 0.5 percent on Wednesday. China's financial markets, including commodity futures, are closed this week for the Lunar New Year holiday. Chinese markets will resume trading on Feb. 11. The Singapore Exchange is shut on Wednesday for the Lunar New Year holiday.