Spot rubber ruled almost steady on Friday. There were no fresh incentives to set a specific trend as the domestic futures were showing an almost similar trend in near months. Sharp declines in the global futures dampened sentiments to a great extent. The overall trend continued to be mixed.

Sheet rubber closed flat Rs 194 a kg, according to traders. The grade finished unchanged at Rs 194.50 a kg at Kottayam and Kochi, as quoted by the Rubber Board.

The May series closed higher at Rs 191.70 (191.65), June at Rs 197.56 (197.53), July at Rs 201.81 (202.20), August at Rs 202.01 (201.93) and September at Rs 203.80 (202.68) a kg for RSS 4 on the National Multi Commodity Exchange.

The Tokyo rubber futures fell around 3.5 per cent to a four-month low as the euro zone debt crisis and weak Chinese economic data stimulated the worries on a fall in rubber demand amidst an improvement in supplies. RSS 3 (spot) weakened to Rs 202.84 (203.69) a kg at Bangkok. The May futures declined to ¥270 (Rs 180.77) from ¥279.7 during the day session but then remained inactive in the night session on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange.

Spot rates were (Rs/kg): RSS-4: 194 (194); RSS-5: 193 (193); ungraded: 189 (188.50); ISNR 20: 193.50 (193) and latex 60 per cent: 125 (125).

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