TOCOM ENDS FLAT AFTER HITTING TWO-WEEK HIGH; TRADERS AWAIT UK VOTE

Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures ended flat on Thursday, retreating from a two-week high hit earlier in the session on a weaker yen, as investors cautiously awaited the United Kingdom's vote on whether to stay in the European Union.

Britons are voting on Thursday to decide the future of their country and Europe in a referendum on EU membership that has divided the nation and is being nervously watched by financial markets and politicians across the world.

The Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) rubber contract for November delivery finished 0.1 yen higher at 155.6 yen ($1.49) per kg, after hitting a high of 158.0 yen, the highest since June 8.

The yen slipped 0.3 percent against the U.S. dollar to 104.41 yen early on Thursday, with the latest polls showing a slight tilt towards 'leaving' the EU when Britons go to the polls. A weaker yen makes yen-denominated assets more affordable when purchased in other currencies.

"But most investors were reluctant to take fresh positions ahead of Britain's vote," said Satoru Yoshida, commodity analyst, Rakuten Securities.

"If the UK stays in the EU, it will boost investors' risk appetite and support equities and commodities prices," he said.

The most-active rubber contract on the Shanghai futures exchange for September delivery rose 75 yuan to finish at 11,035 yuan ($1,677.43) per tonne.

The front-month rubber contract on Singapore's SICOM exchange for July delivery last traded at 130.0 U.S. cents per kg, unchanged from the previous day.