* Japanese rubber futures inched higher on Monday, after
hitting a
two-week low in the previous session, lifted by rising oil
prices and a softer yen, but rate hike concerns limited gains.
* The Osaka Exchange (OSE) rubber contract for September
delivery was up 0.6 yen, or 0.3%, at 205.2 yen ($1.55)
per kg as of 0202 GMT.
* The rubber contract on the Shanghai futures exchange
(SHFE) for
September delivery was up 55 yuan, or 0.4%, at 11,670
yuan ($1,696.96) per tonne.
* Japan's benchmark Nikkei average opened up 0.65%.
* Rubber inventories in warehouses monitored by the Shanghai
Futures Exchange fell 0.7% from last Friday, the exchange said
on Friday.
* U.S. employers maintained a strong pace of hiring in
March,
pushing the unemployment rate back down to 3.5% and signalling
labour market resilience that will keep the Federal Reserve on
track to raise rates one more time next month.
* Still, oil prices nudged higher in early Asian trade on
Monday,
supported by the prospect of tighter supplies from OPEC+
producers from May, but concerns about the global economic
outlook capped gains.
* The natural rubber market is helped by stronger oil prices
as
manufacturers are incentivised to shift away from rival
synthetic rubber that is derived from oil.
* Likewise, the Japanese yen fell 0.39% against the
dollar
to 132.66 as of 0207 GMT.
* A weaker yen makes yen-denominated assets more affordable
when
purchased in other currencies.
* Asian shares inched higher, while the dollar started the
week on
the front foot after the U.S. jobs data underscored tight labour
market, stoking expectations that the Federal Reserve will
raise interest rates at its meeting next month.
* The front-month rubber contract on Singapore Exchange's
SICOM
platform for May delivery last traded at 132.6 U.S.
cents per kg, up 0.2%.
($1 = 132.6200 yen)
($1 = 6.8770 yuan)
(Reporting by Carman Chew)
SINGAPORE, April 10 (Reuters) -
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