A mixed trend continued to prevail in spot rubber on Friday. Sharp recovery in TOCOM rubber futures and the absence of quantity sellers triggered covering purchases at lower levels in selected counters and the prices firmed up on late trades. The market is expected to regain strength once the peak production season comes to an end normally during late January.
Sheet rubber improved to Rs 161.50 at Kottayam and Kochi from Rs 160.50 and Rs 161 a kg respectively, according to traders and the Rubber Board.
The February series closed at Rs 162.40 (162.50), March at Rs 164.70 (164.81), April at Rs 168.21 (168.31), May at Rs 171.98 (171.71) and June at Rs 174.21 (174.25) a kg on the National Multi Commodity Exchange.
RSS 3 (spot) increased to Rs 181.40 (179.40) a kg at Bangkok. The January futures bounced back to ¥296.6 (Rs 177.75) from ¥289.1 during the day session and then to ¥297.8 (Rs 178.47) in the night session on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange.
Spot rates were (Rs/kg): RSS-4: 161.50 (160.50); RSS-5: 156 (156); ungraded: 151 (149); ISNR 20: 157 (157) and latex 60 per cent: 105.50 (106.50).