TOKYO, Feb 23 (Reuters) – Benchmark TOCOM rubber futures climbed to a 3-week high on Tuesday, extending gains into a third straight session, as an overnight rally in oil prices and stronger Tokyo equities market fed appetite for risk.
FUNDAMENTALS
The Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for July delivery JRUc6 0#2JRU: was up 1.7 yen, or 1.1 percent, at 157.1 yen ($1.39) per kg as of 0036 GMT, after touching a high of 157.7 yen, the highest since Feb 4. It gained 1.4 percent the previous day on firmer Shanghai futures. RUB/T
The February contract will expire on Tuesday.
China’s imports of natural rubber rose 2.4 percent in January from a year earlier, according to China’s General Administration of Customs in official customs data.
MARKET NEWS
Oil markets settled up as much as 6 percent on Monday as peculation about falling U.S.shale output and a rally in equities fed the notion that crude prices may be bottoming after a 20-month collapse.
O/R
Japan’s benchmark Nikkei stock average (XC0009692440) was up 1.2 percent in Tuesday trade after global stocks rallied the previous day, backed by a rise in oil and commodity prices. MKTS/GLOB
The U.S. dollar was quoted around 112.85 yen JPY= early on Tuesday. FRX/
DATA/EVENTS (GMT)
The following data is expected on Tuesday: (Time in GMT)
0700 Germany Detailed GDP Q4
0900 Germany Ifo business climate Feb
1400 U.S. S&P/Case-Shiller housing index Dec
1500 U.S. Existing home sales Jan
1500 U.S. Consumer confidence Feb
($1 = 112.8200 yen)
(Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Michael Perry)
