RUBBER-Japanese futures rise on higher oil prices, weaker yen

* Japanese rubber futures opened higher on Tuesday, supported by gains in oil prices amid supply concerns, while a weaker yen also lent some support.
* The Osaka Exchange (OSE) rubber contract for August delivery was up 2.1 yen, or 0.9%, at 227.1 yen ($1.67) per kg, as of 0212 GMT.
* The rubber contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) for May delivery was up 5 yuan, or 0.04%, at 12,470 yuan ($1,797.81) per tonne.
* Japan's benchmark Nikkei average opened down 0.12%.
* Oil prices edged up after industry executives flagged concerns about limited spare capacity in the market and uncertainty over Russian supplies while demand from top crude importer China is recovering.
* The natural rubber market is helped by stronger oil prices as manufacturers are incentivised to shift away from synthetic rubber that is derived from oil, driving natural rubber prices higher.
* The Japanese yen slipped ahead of the final policy meeting for Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda on Thursday and Friday.
* A weaker yen makes yen-denominated assets more affordable when purchased in other currencies.
* Asian financial markets were little changed as investors awaited a congressional testimony from Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell due to start later in the day for clues on the central bank's next move on interest rates.
* The front-month rubber contract on Singapore Exchange's SICOM platform for April delivery last traded at 139.00 U.S. cents per kg, down 0.2%.
($1 = 135.9400 yen) ($1 = 6.9362 yuan) (Reporting by Carman Chew; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)