Rubber Market Tracks Gains In Regional Futures But Ends Mixed On Rising Ringgit

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Lumpur rubber market closed mixed on Friday, tracking gains in regional rubber futures markets and steady crude oil prices, but a stronger ringgit against the US dollar weighed on sentiment.

A dealer said market sentiment was lifted by Chinese economic stimulus measures, concerns over rubber supply.  "However, further gains were limited by weaker Chinese economic data and expectations that the United States will keep its interest rate unchanged at the January 2026 meeting on the back of strong US economic indicators," she told Bernama.

The dealer noted that Japanese rubber futures rose on Friday, buoyed by weather-related risks to supply from top producer Thailand. It was reported that prices of raw materials remain high due to the floods in southern Thailand and the Thai-Cambodian conflict, she added.

At 3 pm, Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) 20 rose 11 sen to 743.5 sen per kilogramme, while latex-in-bulk slipped two sen to 574 sen per kilogramme.

-- BERNAMA