SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices on Thursday remained close to late 2014-highs reached in the previous session as U.S. crude inventories declined and as top exporter Saudi Arabia pushes for prices of $80 to $100 per barrel by continuing to withhold supplies.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is well prepared to handle any negative effects from its trade dispute with the United States, the commerce ministry said on Thursday, adding that China’s tariff hikes on U.S. imports will not have a big impact overall on its domestic industries.

Benchmark Tokyo rubber futures edged higher for a second session on Wednesday, helped by firmer Shanghai futures and lower yen against the U.S. dollar, but concerns over the rising inventories capped gains.

Various industries that are reliant on high performance and quality rubbers are advancing at a past pace. Today, opportunities and challenges alike are shaping up innovations in leading industries such as automotive and tyres.