Key Tokyo rubber futures settled nearly flat in thin trade on Tuesday as concerns about debt crises in Europe and the United States kept investors to the sidelines, but a recovery in oil prices and gains in Shanghai rubber lent support.
The key Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for December delivery settled down 0.2 yen at 378.8 yen per kg, after moving in a narrow range between 379 yen and 373 yen.
The most active Shanghai rubber contract for January delivery closed up 2.1 percent at 35,855 yuan per tonne, up from 35,115 yuan on Monday. Volume stood at 831,876 lots.
"Heightened concerns over sovereign debt crisis both in the US and Europe have made investors wary of taking positions," said Naoki Asami, chief broker at trading house Kanetsu.
Apart from technical factors, Tokyo futures prices were also weighed down by rising supply in Thailand. Rains in southern Thailand have stopped, allowing farmers to tap for more latex, traders said.