RUBBER-Tokyo futures flat ahead of China data

Key TOCOM rubber futures were almost flat early on Thursday as traders stayed on the sidelines ahead of manufacturing data from China and the expiration on Friday of the front-month contract.

FUNDAMENTALS

* The key Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for June delivery was up 0.1 percent, or 0.2 yen, at 308.5 yen per kg as of 0050GMT.

* Japan logged a record annual trade deficit in 2012 as exports continued to slide in December, in a worrying signal that the effects of a weaker yen and the new government's moves to boost the economy with fiscal and monetary stimulus have been slow in coming.

* HSBC's flash report due out at 0145 GMT is expected to show the reading on China's manufacturing sector surpassing December's 51.5, a positive for commodity prices.

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MARKET NEWS

* The Japanese yen fell to 88.58 yen from a one-week high of 88.06. On Monday, the Japanese unit fell to a 2-1/2 year high of 90.25.

* The Nikkei slipped 0.3 percent after Apple announced disappointing sales figures for the smartphone.

* U.S. crude oil futures fell $1.45 to settle at $95.23 a barrel on Wednesday, weighed down by news the Seaway crude oil pipeline connecting the Midwest to the Gulf Coast had cut throughput.