RUBBER

KUALA LUMPUR Malaysian rubber prices closed lower due to negative external sentiment in the US and China, dealers said.

A dealer said rubber prices dropped sharply today on negative sentiments brought by falling equity prices resulting from weak US data and a weak physical rubber market, with tyre grades changing hands at lower prices.

The Malaysian Rubber Board’s official physical price for tyre-grade SMR 20 fell 20 sen to 790 sen a kg at noon from Wednesday’s 810 sen a kg, while latex-in-bulk lost 5.5 sen to 600 sen a kg from 605.5 sen a kg on Wednesday.

The unofficial closing price for tyre-grade SMR 20 decreased 15 sen to 792 sen a kg from 807 sen a kg while latex-in-bulk slipped seven sen to 597 sen a kg from 604 sen a kg previously. – Bernama