TOKYO: Japanese rubber futures rose on Wednesday after a survey showed sentiment among the country’s manufacturers became more positive last month for the first time since mid-2019.

Osaka Exchange’s rubber contract for July delivery finished 7.6 yen, or 3%, higher at 259.6 yen per kg.

The rubber contract on the Shanghai futures exchange did not trade due to a public holiday around the Lunar New Year.

The Reuters Tankan poll found sentiment among Japanese manufacturers turned positive in February, driven by improving overseas demand, although caution about the ongoing fallout from the coronavirus persisted.—Reuters