Thai rubber sold at four-month low, default fears loom

SINGAPORE; Thai RSS3 rubber grade changed hands at $4.18 to $4.20 a kg for forward shipments, their lowest level in four months, or more than 30 percent below a lifetime hit in February as Tokyo futures tumbled, dealers said on Tuesday.

Persistent rumours of defaults by some consumers also weighed on prices despite the dry wintering season in Southeast Asia, which curbs the flow of latex. RSS3, often seen as a benchmark grade, stood at a record of $6.40 in February.