Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) futures ended lower on Wednesday, tracking weakness in Shanghai futures and oil prices. TOCOM's rubber contract for May delivery closed 1.4 yen ($0.0129) down at 199.5 yen per kg. In early trade, it was hovering near a six-month high hit last week amid US-China trade optimism.
The most-active rubber contract on the Shanghai futures exchange for May delivery fell 135 yuan ($19.18) to finish at 13,050 yuan per tonne. China's new technically specified rubber (TSR) 20 futures contract was last down 130 yuan at 10,880 yuan per tonne.
The front-month rubber contract on Singapore's SICOM exchange for January delivery last traded at 144.6 US cents per kg, down 1.6%.
The US dollar was quoted around 109.44 yen, compared with around 109.47 yen on Tuesday afternoon.
Oil prices fell on Wednesday after US industry data showed a surprise build in crude inventories, but expectations for firmer demand next year prevented a bigger fall in prices.
Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock average was down 0.55%.
