RUBBER-Japanese futures fall for second day on weak global economic cues

* 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)