In first quarter of 2019, the world production of natural rubber (NR) fell 5.2%,  year-to-year, accounted to 2.989 million tonnes in the presence of wintering seasons and prevailing low rubber prices to some farmers in specific countries. The new leaf fall disease outbreak in South Sumatra might also have contributed to the drop in the world NR production. The world consumption of NR also down marginally by 0.4% to 3.380 million tonnes during the same reference period. This favourable market fundamental has supported the physical NR prices across key markets with some improvements over the first three months in 2019 by hovering around US$1.45 per kg. 

TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares wobbled near four-month lows on Tuesday on mounting worries the White House’s black-listing of Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies could further inflame already tense relations between the Washington and Beijing.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices edged up on Tuesday on signs that producer club OPEC will continue withholding supply this year and as tensions between the United States and Iran escalated.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Oil prices edged higher on Friday, extending gains into a fourth session as rising tensions in the Middle East stoked fears of potential supply disruptions.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Asian shares were trying to end a bleak week in the black on Friday as upbeat U.S. economic news and solid company earnings offered a respite from the interminable Sino-U.S. trade saga.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Oil prices edged up on Thursday to extend gains into a third straight session, as tensions in the Middle East stoked fears of potential disruptions to supply.