Key TOCOM rubber futures fell slightly on Tuesday, retreating from a two-month high, as optimism about demand after strong output data in China over the weekend withered and weighed on Shanghai futures. But price falls were limited by hopes the US Federal Reserve could unleash more stimulus measures at the end of its two-day policy meeting this week.

The most-active Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for May delivery settled down 1 yen, or 0.4 percent, at 266.5 yen per kg. The benchmark contract earlier rose as high as 269.2 yen, the highest since October 12.

The most active Shanghai rubber contract for May delivery closed down 280 yuan at 24,610 yuan per tonne. The front-month January contract on the SICOM in Singapore was last traded at 284 US cents per kg, down 1.8 cents. Crude rubber inventories at Japanese ports eased to a one-month low to 6,186 tonnes by November 30, industry data released every 10 days showed on Monday.

Copyright Reuters, 2012