Rubber prices showed a better trend on Tuesday. Sheet rubber RSS 4 improved to Rs 137.50 from Rs 136.50 a kg both at Kottayam and Kochi.
According to dealers, the market made excellent gains on short covering against another weak closing in international indices.
Heavy rains all over the plantation areas during the past two or three days showed its negative impact on production and arrivals.
Buyers were chasing the sparse arrivals to fulfil their earlier commitments even at Rs 12 above the global rates. The volumes were dull.
The August futures for RSS 3 moved down to ¥325.5 (Rs 125.24) from ¥327.5, September to ¥319.7 (320.7), October to ¥315 (315.8), November to ¥311 (311.9), December to ¥307.3 (308.8) and January to ¥304.4 (307.2) a kg at TOCOM.
Spot prices were (Rs/kg): RSS-4: 137.50 (136.50); RSS-5: 135 (132); ungraded: 128.50 (126.50); ISNR 20: 132.25 (131) and latex 60 per cent: 83.50 (83).