RUBBER-Japan futures range-bound as traders weigh supply snags, US tariff concerns

SINGAPORE, Jan 23 (Reuters) -

• Japanese rubber futures traded within a narrow range on Thursday, as investors weighed worsening supply prospects from top producer Thailand against potential new tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump.

• The Osaka Exchange (OSE) rubber contract for June delivery JRUc6, 0#2JRU: was up 0.9 yen, or 0.24%, at 383 yen ($2.45) per kg as of 0213 GMT.

• The rubber contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) for March delivery SNRv1 dipped 55 yuan, or 0.32%, to 17,355 yuan ($2,383.93) per metric ton.

• The most active February butadiene rubber contract on the SHFE SHBRv1 fell 20 yuan, or 0.13%, to 14,800 yuan ($2,032.97) per ton.

• The weather in Thailand may continue to worsen, and the price of raw materials is likely to rise, said Chinese consultancy Natural Rubber Network in a note.

• Thailand's meteorological agency warned of heavy rains which may cause flash floods and overflows from Jan. 27-28.

• In top consumer China, stocks and currency came under pressure on Wednesday as U.S. President Donald Trump began to ratchet up tariff rhetoric on Beijing.

• On Tuesday, Trump said his administration was discussing a 10% punitive duty on Chinese imports.

• More than half of American businesses in China, the highest level in five years, say they are concerned about trade turmoil between the U.S. and China, a survey showed.

• The yen JPY=EBS edged up about 0.1% to 156.40, with markets pricing 95% odds of a rate-hike by the Bank of Japan on Friday.USD/

• A stronger currency makes yen-denominated assets less affordable to overseas buyers. FRX/

• The front-month rubber contract on Singapore Exchange's SICOM platform for February delivery STFc1 last traded at 198.4 U.S. cents per kg, down 0.1%.

($1 = 156.4900 yen)

($1 = 7.2800 Chinese yuan)