* Japanese rubber futures extended losses on Thursday, as
weak
U.S. economic data fuelled recession fears, while shrinking
industrial profit in China also dragged prices lower.
* The Osaka Exchange (OSE) rubber contract for October
delivery was down 3.2 yen, or 1.5%, at 208.2 yen
($1.56) per kg, as of 0206 GMT.
* The rubber contract on the Shanghai futures exchange
(SHFE) for
September delivery was down 180 yuan, or 1.5%, at 11,770
yuan ($1,697.87) per tonne.
* Japan's benchmark Nikkei average opened 0.27%
lower.
* China's industrial firms profit shrank at a slower pace in
the
first quarter, as the economy has yet to be assured of a full
recovery despite a pick-up in services and consumption.
* Similarly, new orders for key U.S.-manufactured capital
goods
fell more than expected in March and shipments declined,
suggesting that business spending on equipment likely remained a
drag on economic growth in the first quarter.
* U.S. consumer confidence dropped to a nine-month low in
April,
further heightening the risk that the economy could fall into
recession this year.
* Investors were also cautious ahead of the domestic
earnings
season getting into full swing from Thursday and new Bank of
Japan (BOJ) governor Kazuo Ueda's first policy decision on
Friday.
* Asian shares resumed their losing streak on Thursday as
troubles
at U.S. lender First Republic Bank continued to unnerve
investors amid concerns that U.S. economic growth could very
well surprise to the downside.
* The front-month rubber contract on Singapore Exchange's
SICOM
platform for May delivery last traded at 134.2 U.S.
cents per kg, down 1.6%.
($1 = 133.5300 yen)
($1 = 6.9322 yuan)
(Reporting by Carman Chew; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
SINGAPORE, April 27 (Reuters) -
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