Benchmark TOCOM rubber futures extended gains into a third session on Wednesday, touching their highest in more than three months on the back of an overnight gain in Shanghai futures and higher oil prices.
FUNDAMENTALS
* The Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) rubber contract for February delivery was up 0.7 yen, or 0.3 percent, at 229.3 yen ($2.11) per kg at 0035 GMT, after hitting its highest since May 24 at 231.9 yen earlier in the session.
* The most-active rubber contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange for January delivery rose 135 yuan to finish at 17,405 yuan ($2,664) per tonne in overnight trade.
* For the top stories in the rubber market and other news, click or
MARKET NEWS
* Oil prices dipped on Wednesday as crude demand remained subdued on the back of refinery closures following Hurricane Harvey which hit the U.S. Gulf coast 10 days ago. Market focus was also being drawn to Hurricane Irma, a record Category 5 storm, which is barrelling towards important shipping lanes in the Caribbean.
* The U.S. dollar fell as much as 1 percent against the Japanese currency to 108.65 yen on Tuesday, its lowest since Aug. 29, after North Korea conducted its sixth and biggest nuclear test two days ago. It was quoted around 108.75 yen early Wednesday.
* Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock average was down 0.4 percent on Wednesday after Wall Street stocks fell the previous day as investors shied away from risk following North Korea's biggest nuclear test yet.
* Copper touched a three-year high on Tuesday but closed lower after weak U.S. factory orders prompted a pullback across industrial metals.
DATA/EVENTS (GMT)
* The following data is expected on Wednesday: (Time in GMT) 0600 Germany Industrial orders Jul 1230 U.S. International trade Jul 1400 U.S. ISM non-manufacturing PMI Aug 1800 Federal Reserve issues Beige Book of economic condition
