BANGKOK, Jan 13 (Reuters) – Tokyo rubber futures tumbled 7.8
percent on Tuesday as a fall in oil prices spurred stop-loss
selling, which outweighed a Thai government plan to shore up
rubber prices.
* The benchmark rubber contract on the Tokyo Commodity
Exchange <0#JRU:> for June delivery fell 11.8 yen, or 7.8
percent, to settle at 137.9 yen ($1.55) per kg.
* Rubber futures had jumped 4.6 percent on Friday as oil
prices gained. Tokyo financial markets were closed on Monday for
a national holiday.
* U.S. crude fell more than $1 a barrel on Tuesday to
its lowest in more than two weeks, extending a near 8 percent
loss overnight on worries about energy demand.
* U.S. jobless data released on Friday offered further
evidence of the severity of global economic problems, with the
U.S. unemployment rate hitting its highest level in almost 16
years. [ID:nN09282664]
* In an effort to shore up prices, the Thai government plans
to buy up to 100,000 tonnes of rubber from the market this year
and keep it in stocks, agriculture ministry sources and industry
officials said on Monday. [ID:nBKK233598]
* Last month the world’s top three rubber-producing
countries, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, agreed to cut 2009
rubber exports by a sixth, or 915,000 tonnes, to prop up prices.
* Looking ahead, benchmark Tokyo rubber futures could extend
December’s rebound and rise further this month because of hopes
of more buying from China and worries about tight supplies, a
Reuters poll showed on Monday. [ID:nBKK401180]
* In the physical market, Indonesian SIR20 was last traded at
65.75 U.S. cents per pound for February and March shipment, while
SIR20 for April shipment was sold at 67.50 cents per pound,
traders said.

PRICES OF ASIAN PHYSICAL RUBBER COMPARED WITH FRIDAY
Grade Price Change
Thai RSS3 (Feb) $1.55/kg +$0.03
Thai RSS3 (Mar) $1.55/kg +$0.03
Thai STR20 (Feb) $1.50/kg unchanged
Thai STR20 (Mar) $1.50/kg unchanged
Malaysia SMR20 (Feb) $1.48/kg +$0.01
Malaysia SMR20 (Mar) $1.48/kg +$0.01
Indonesia SIR20 (Feb) $0.67/lb +$0.01
Indonesia SIR20 (Mar) $0.67/lb +$0.01
Thai USS3 47 unchanged
Thai 60-percent latex (drums, Feb) $1,200 +$100
Thai 60-percent latex (bulk, Feb) $1,100 +$100
Source:  Reuters

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