Updates market at close

SINGAPORE, Feb 27 (Reuters) -

• Japanese rubber futures declined for a fourth straight session on Thursday, pressured by a firmer yen, although strengthening oil prices cushioned the fall.

• The Osaka Exchange (OSE) August rubber contract JRUc6, 0#2JRU: lost 1 yen, or 0.28%, to close at 360 yen ($2.41) per kg.

• The May rubber contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) SNRv1 gained 65 yuan, or 0.37%, to 17,685 yuan ($2,433.47) per metric ton.

• The dollar was last up to 149.34 against the yen JPY=EBS, but not far off its weakest level against the Japanese currency since early December 2024. USD/

• A stronger currency makes yen-denominated assets less affordable to overseas buyers. FRX/

• Meanwhile, the most active February butadiene rubber contract on the SHFE SHBRv1 rose 135 yuan, or 0.99%, to 13,840 yuan ($1,904.39) per metric ton.

• Oil prices climbed for the first time in three days on Thursday, with supply worries resurfacing after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a reversal of a license given to Chevron CVX.N to operate in Venezuela. O/R

• Natural rubber often takes direction from oil as it competes for market share with synthetic rubber, which is made from crude oil.

• Global trade uncertainty is weighing on rubber, though supply-side concerns are limiting the decline, Chinese consultancy Hexun Futures said.

• Trump has floated the idea of 25% tariffs on European cars and other imports and targeted early April to impose reciprocal tariffs matching import duty rates of other countries.

• Natural rubber-producing areas have entered a low production season, tightening supply, Chinese financial data provider Tonghuashun Information said.

• "Some producers have noted an increase in raw material prices and recent strong prices have made them feel more reluctant to match the lower futures prices trend," said Farah Miller, founder of independent rubber-focused data firm Helixtap Technologies.

• The front-month rubber contract on the Singapore Exchange's SICOM platform for March delivery STFc1 last traded at 205.3 U.S. cents per kg, up 1.5%.

($1 = 149.2100 yen)

($1 = 7.2674 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by Michele Pek; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Sumana Nandy)

((michele.pek@thomsonreuters.com;))