Asian rubber markets settled higher on Friday as many traders expected that Thai Cabinet would approve a government price intervention plan next Tuesday. In addition, the rubber markets were also buoyed by successful bond auction in France and Spain on last Thursday as well as a recent string of positive economic data from the US.

IRCo's DCP moved higher to 379.20 US cents/kg on Friday, or gained over 10 percent compared with its Monday DCP. Meanwhile, Thailand RSS-3 rose to 380.39 US cents/kg or increased significantly by 11.38 percent on Friday compared to its price on Monday. STR-20 also followed a similar uptrend of RSS-3 and moved higher to 367.55 US cent/kg, or gained 9.41 percent on Friday compared with its initial price on Monday. Furthermore, Indonesia SIR-20 and Malaysia SMR-20 settled higher at 386.00 US cents/kg and at 385.00 US cents/kg on Friday compared with their settlement prices on Monday.

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