Rubber futures traded on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) settled lower for the fifth consecutive session on Thursday (December 19, 2013) tracking losses in the broader commodity market.
The most actively traded contract for May 2014 delivery ended at 19,055 yuan/metric ton, down 240 yuan or 1.24% from the previous settlement.
Industrial Futures noted that the fall in rubber prices would slowdown in the coming sessions. The broker said while supply remains sufficient in light of the increasing inventories at Qingdao Bonded Zone, demand in downstream industries, the automobile sector in particular, has become firmer to underpin the rubber prices. (Edited by Olivia, olivia@tireworld.com.cn)