TOKYO: Japanese rubber futures fell to a two-week low on Wednesday, as a plunge in Shanghai futures prompted sells while a leading Covid-19 vaccine candidate faced delay, fuelling concerns over slow recovery in demand for the commodity.
Osaka Exchange's (OSE) rubber contract for February delivery finished 4.3 yen lower at 176.0 yen ($1.66) per kg. It hit the lowest since Aug. 25 of 175.9 yen earlier in the session.
The most-active rubber contract on the Shanghai futures exchange for January delivery sank 405 yuan to finish at 12,120 yuan ($1,771) per tonne, after touching the lowest since Aug. 5 earlier in the session.
The front-month rubber contract on Singapore's SICOM exchange for September delivery last traded at 131.0 US cents per kg, down 3.0%.
AstraZeneca has paused global trials of its experimental coronavirus vaccine after an unexplained illness in a participant, denting the British drugmaker's shares on Wednesday as the move was seen as dimming prospects for an early rollout.