TOKYO, Oct 6 (Reuters) – Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures rose for a fifth session to hit a 2-1/2-week high on Tuesday, as some investors unwound short positions on the back of strong Japanese equities while others kept to the sidelines on lack of fresh news due to holidays in China. The Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) rubber contract for March delivery finished 2.9 yen, or 1.7 percent, higher at 173.8 yen ($1.44) per kg. It earlier touched 174.5 yen, the highest since Sept.18.
TOCOM futures, which set the tone for tyre rubber prices in Southeast Asia, have gained 5.7 percent over the past five sessions. “Some investors were buying back contracts as the Nikkei index extended its gains and brightened market sentiment,” said Toshitaka Tazawa, an analyst at Fujitomi Co.
Japan’s Nikkei stock index ended up 1 percent, extending its rebound from an eight-month low hit a week ago, as risk appetite increased on news of a basic agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact. .T Twelve Pacific Rim countries including the United States, Japan and Canada reached the most ambitious trade pact in a generation, though some analysts say the benefits of the far-reaching plan are far from clear at this point. “Investors also felt safe to cover short positions as they don’t have to worry about Chinese stock prices that frequently weigh on rubber prices,” Tazawa said.
Chinese financial markets are closed until Oct.7 for national holidays, and will reopen on Oct. “If Shanghai rubber futures get a boost when the market reopens on Thursday, TOCOM may carry on the positive trend,” Tazawa added.
The front-month rubber contract on Singapore’s SICOM exchange for November delivery STFc1 last traded at 125.3 U.S. cents per kg, up 0.8 cent. ($1 = 120.2900 yen)
(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Sunil Nair)
Night Session (16:30 – 19:00) As of Oct 06, 2015 21:55 JST
Trade Date: Oct 07, 2015 Prices in yen / kilogram
| Month | Last Settlement Price | Open | High | Low | Close | Change | Volume |
| Oct 2015 | 162.0 | 161.0 | 161.0 | 161.0 | 161.0 | -1.0 | 2 |
| Nov 2015 | 163.5 | 162.3 | 162.7 | 162.3 | 162.7 | -0.8 | 7 |
| Dec 2015 | 167.0 | 165.9 | 166.1 | 165.5 | 165.6 | -1.4 | 10 |
| Jan 2016 | 170.0 | 169.0 | 169.7 | 168.5 | 168.5 | -1.5 | 211 |
| Feb 2016 | 172.6 | 172.2 | 172.2 | 171.0 | 171.0 | -1.6 | 535 |
| Mar 2016 | 173.8 | 173.5 | 173.5 | 172.3 | 172.3 | -1.5 | 1,186 |
| Total | 1,951 | ||||||
Day Session (9:00 – 15:15) As of Oct 06, 2015 15:55 JST
Trade Date: Oct 06, 2015 Prices in yen / kilogram
| Month | Last Settlement Price | Open | High | Low | Close | Change | Volume | Settlement |
| Oct 2015 | 158.0 | 159.6 | 163.1 | 159.6 | 162.0 | +4.0 | 30 | 162.0 |
| Nov 2015 | 160.2 | 161.5 | 163.9 | 161.5 | 163.5 | +3.3 | 93 | 163.5 |
| Dec 2015 | 164.0 | 165.9 | 167.4 | 165.5 | 167.4 | +3.0 | 77 | 167.0 |
| Jan 2016 | 167.5 | 169.0 | 170.7 | 168.9 | 170.0 | +2.5 | 347 | 170.0 |
| Feb 2016 | 169.6 | 171.5 | 173.2 | 170.6 | 172.8 | +3.0 | 2,129 | 172.6 |
| Mar 2016 | 170.9 | 172.8 | 174.5 | 171.8 | 174.0 | +2.9 | 5,029 | 173.8 |
| Total | 7,705 | |||||||
