The rubber market remained under pressure as the State-wide lorry strike continued for the fourth day on Monday. An all round decline in global futures especially TOCOM which reacted closely to yen strength in exchange markets adversely influenced the trader’s sentiments. Sheet rubber weakened to Rs 99 and Rs 99.50 a kg respectively at Kottayam and Koch against Rs 100 a kg and the volumes were in a low key.

Futures decline

The rubber futures declined further piercing through the initial daily downward limit of 2 per cent on NMCE. The November contract fell to Rs 99.21 (101.33), December to Rs 100.05 (102.55), January to Rs 101 (103.45) and February to Rs 102.30 (104.54) per kg for RSS 4.

Spot prices were (Rs/kg): RSS-4: 99 (100); RSS-5: 97.50 (98); ungraded: 94.50 (95); ISNR 20: 96 (97) and latex 60 per cent: 63.50 (64.20).