* Japanese rubber futures opened higher for a third session
on
Tuesday, lifted by stronger-than-expected China GDP data,
although weaker crude prices capped gains.
* The Osaka Exchange (OSE) rubber contract for September
delivery was up 1.7 yen, or 0.8%, at 212.5 yen ($1.58)
per kg as of 0153 GMT.
* The rubber contract on the Shanghai futures exchange
(SHFE) for
September delivery was up 115 yuan, or 1.0%, at 11,925
yuan ($1,736.24) per tonne.
* Japan's benchmark Nikkei average opened up 0.19%.
* China's economy grew at a faster-than-expected
clip in
the first quarter, official data showed on Tuesday,
expanding 4.5% year-on-year , as policymakers move to bolster growth following the end of strict COVID-19 curbs in December.
* Oil prices held steady in early trading on Tuesday after
falling
2% in the previous session, with markets awaiting data from
China, looking for signs of economic recovery and growth to
offset weakening demand elsewhere.
* Lower oil prices incentivise manufacturers to shift to
synthetic
rubber derived from oil, hindering the natural rubber market.
* Asia's share markets were in a cautious mode in early
trade on
Tuesday as global investors waited to see whether China recorded
a major first-quarter bounceback from its punishing pandemic
lockdowns that created an economic slowdown.
* The front-month rubber contract on Singapore Exchange's
SICOM
platform for May delivery last traded at 138.0 U.S.
cents per kg, up 0.4%.
($1 = 134.5500 yen)
($1 = 6.8683 yuan)
(Reporting by Carman Chew; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)
