RUBBER-Japan futures ease on firmer yen, snap 4-day rally

TOKYO, Dec 11 (Reuters) -

• Japanese rubber futures eased on Thursday, snapping a four-day rally as a stronger yen against the U.S. dollar prompted some selling, while traders booked profits after the U.S. Federal Reserve cut interest rates as expected.

• The Osaka Exchange (OSE) rubber contract for May delivery JRUc6, 0#2JRU: finished 0.8 yen, or 0.2%, lower at 329.6 yen ($2.1) per kg, reversing course after earlier gains.

• The rubber contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) for May delivery SNRv1 fell 5 yuan to settle at 15,185 yuan ($2,151) per metric ton.

• The yen JPY= was at 155.98 against the U.S. dollar, compared with 156.69 yen in late Wednesday Asia trade.

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

• Also weighing on the rubber market, Japan's Nikkei share average .N225 fell 0.9% on Thursday. .T

• A sharply divided Fed cut interest rates on Wednesday but signalled borrowing costs are unlikely to drop further in the near term as it awaits clarity on the direction of a job market showing signs of softening, inflation that "remains somewhat elevated" and an economy it sees picking up steam next year.

• A Fed rate cut boosted hopes for stronger rubber demand by supporting consumption.

• The World Bank on Thursday said China's economy held firm in the third quarter of 2025, bringing year-to-date GDP growth to 5.2% year on year.

• Oil prices slid on Thursday as investors shifted focus back to Russia-Ukraine peace talks and monitored potential fallout from a U.S. seizure of a sanctioned tanker off the coast of Venezuela. O/R

• The front-month rubber contract on Singapore Exchange's SICOM platform for January delivery STFc1 last traded at 172.3 U.S. cents per kg, down 0.1%.

($1 = 155.9700 yen)

($1 = 7.0580 Chinese yuan renminbi)