Tokyo futures slip as investors assess Fed stimulus (Sep 18)

TOKYO, Sept 18 (Reuters) – Key TOCOM rubber futures fell in early trading on Tuesday after posting the biggest weekly gain since January last week, as investors paused to gauge the impact on growth from the Federal Reserve’s latest round of stimulus efforts.

FUNDAMENTALS

* The Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for February delivery, fell 0.5 yen, or 0.3 percent, to 254.1 yen per kilogram as of 0125 GMT. It fell to as low as 250.6 yen in earlier trading.

MARKET NEWS

* U.S. crude rose to just over $97 a barrel on Tuesday, regaining some ground after falling as much as $4 in the previous session in a late, high-volume sell-off that has prompted an investigation by U.S. regulators.

* Japan’s Nikkei average slipped in early trade on Tuesday as China-related companies were caught up in tension between China and Japan’s over a territorial dispute, although a weaker yen offered some support to the market.

* U.S. stocks fell on Monday in light trading after a rally that drove the S&P 500 last week to its highest level in nearly five years and as falling oil prices hit energy shares.

DATA EVENTS

* The following data is expected on Tuesday: (Times in GMT)

- 0900 Germany ZEW economic sentiment Sept

- 1145 U.S. ICSC weekly chain store sales

- 1230 U.S. Current account Q2

- 1255 U.S. Redbook weekly retail sales

- 1400 U.S. NAHB housing market index Sept

- 2030 U.S. API weekly crude stocks

(Reporting by Aaron Sheldrick; Editing by Ed Davies)

Source: http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/rubber-tokyo-futures-slip-investors-013848246.html