RUBBER-Tokyo futures up from 5-mth low, but still set for 10 pct weekly loss

Key TOCOM rubber futures rose on Friday, bouncing from a five-month low hit the previous day, but remain set for a 10 percent weekly loss in the wake of weak Chinese data that sapped the outlook for demand ahead of a seasonal pick-up in output.

FUNDAMENTALS

* The key Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract, for September delivery , was changing hands up 4 yen, or 1.6 percent, at 249.2 yen per kg as of 0023 GMT.

* The benchmark contract on Thursday fell as far as 242.6 yen, its lowest since November 2012.

* Thailand, the world's biggest rubber producer and exporter, is planning to offer loans to exporters to buy the commodity in a bid to shore up falling prices, a senior government official said on Thursday.

* Separately, Bangkok has decided to cut exports for another two months after a scheme agreed with Indonesia and Malaysia expired at the end of March.

* Thai farmers, who form a significant vote-bank for the government, usually resume tapping trees for the commodity after a one-month break during the dry season in April.

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MARKET NEWS

* The dollar traded at around 98.25 yen on Friday, paring recent falls and nearing a four-year high of 99.94 yen marked last week, amid views that Japan was unlikely to face much criticism of its aggressive monetary easing at a meeting of the Group of 20 countries beginning on Thursday.

* Japan's Nikkei share average rose on Friday as the downward trend in the yen offset negative sentiment from Wall Street.

* Brent crude oil rose more than $1 a barrel back toward $100 a barrel on Thursday, snapping a six-day losing streak as low prices sparked buying by bargain hunters.