Rubber Market Ends Higher Despite Mixed Signals From Regional Futures

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Lumpur rubber market ended higher on Monday, despite mixed signals from regional rubber futures markets, a dealer said.

The dealer said sentiment improved on expectations that Europe may introduce policy support for its automotive sector, strengthening views that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates later this week. Optimism surrounding China's pro-demand policies also lifted sentiment.

"However, further gains were limited by mixed Chinese economic data and a stronger ringgit against the US dollar," she told Bernama.

Meanwhile, Japanese rubber futures fell today due to weaker rubber demand from Europe, the impact of US tariffs, and high inventory levels in China amid a stronger yen.

At 3 pm, the price of Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) 20 was up by 2.5 sen to 718 sen per kilogramme (kg), while latex-in-bulk inched up by a half a sen to 576 sen per kg.

-- BERNAMA