TOKYO, Sept 20 (Reuters) – Tokyo rubber futures dipped on Friday on profit-taking, but the contract still posted a weekly gain of 4.4 percent as the unexpected decision by the Federal Reserve to continue its huge fiscal stimulus supported commodity markets.
Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) futures, which set the tone for tyre rubber prices in Southeast Asia, also got a boost from the weaker yen, as the dollar erased all of its losses following the surprise U.S. central bank judgement.
The key TOCOM rubber contract for February delivery edged down 0.5 percent to settle at 283.9 yen per kg, but even with the dip, the contract was still up 11.9 yen on the week.
“Today was mainly investors taking profits ahead of the long weekend, but a few reduced long positions ahead of HSBC’s announcement,” said Kazuhiko Saito, chief analyst at Fujitomi Co.
HSBC is scheduled to announce its September China manufacturing PMI on Monday and if the results are strong for the world’s top rubber consumer the contract could rise over 290 yen, but if they are weak, prices could fall under 270 yen, Saito added.
The benchmark Nikkei 225 also fell on Friday, edging down 0.2 percent, as it stepped back from two-month highs as investors locked in profits on recent gainers before the Tokyo’s three-day weekend.
The U.S. dollar was quoted around 99.28 yen in afternoon Asian trade, well off Wednesday’s low of 97.76 yen.
The Shanghai rubber market was shut on Friday for the Mid-Autumn Festival public holiday.
The front-month rubber contract on Singapore’s SICOM exchange for October delivery last traded at 242.20 U.S. cents per kg, or 3.10 cents lower.
(Reporting by James Topham; Editing by Anand Basu)
Source: Reuters
