Spot rubber improved on Thursday. The market continued to experience short supplies following widespread rain all over the plantation areas. But gains were still limited on buyer resistance as major consuming industries stayed either inactive or kept a low profile.
Sheet rubber increased marginally to Rs 216.50 from Rs 216 a kg both at Kottayam and Kochi, according to traders and the Rubber Board. The trend was mixed.
The September series for RSS 4 expired at Rs 216.50 (217.94) while the October series improved to Rs 218.18 (214.65), November to Rs 217.19 (213.68), December to Rs 218 (215), January to Rs 219.25 (216.02) and February to Rs 220.22 (217.70) a kg on the National Multi Commodity Exchange.
RSS 3 (spot) firmed up to Rs 223.95 (221.16) a kg at Bangkok. The September futures for the grade dropped to ¥348.2 (Rs 216.50) from ¥349.1 a kg during the day session but then recovered to ¥350.5 (Rs 217.93) a kg in the night session on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange.
Spot rates were (Rs/kg): RSS-4: 216.50 (216); RSS-5: 208 (207); ungraded: 203 (202); ISNR 20: 210 (210) and latex 60 per cent: 133.50 (133.50).