Benchmark TOCOM rubber futures inched up on Friday as investors adjusted positions ahead of key U.S. jobs data later the day and a three-day weekend in Japan, with the contract remaining on track for its first weekly gain in a month.
FUNDAMENTALS
* The Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) rubber contract for March delivery was up 0.6 yen, or 0.3 percent, at 208.6 yen ($1.85) per kg at 0032 GMT, after snapping a 3-day rally the previous day. For the week, it was heading for a 3.4-percent rise, its first weekly gain in four.
* Chinese markets will resume trading on Monday after the week-long National Day holiday. Japanese markets will be shut on Monday for a public holiday.
* The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, but the continued impact of hurricanes Harvey and Irma on the data made it difficult to get a clear picture of the labour market.
* According to a Reuters survey of economists, the U.S. Labor Department's closely watched employment report on Friday will likely show that nonfarm payrolls increased by 90,000 jobs last month after rising by 156,000 in August.
* British new car registrations on Thursday appeared on course for their first annual fall since 2011 after a 9.3-percent tumble in September, a month which normally accounts for around 15 percent of demand.
MARKET NEWS
* Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock average was up 0.4 percent on Friday after investor optimism over U.S. tax reforms and the global economy spurred Wall Street and world stock markets to fresh highs the previous day.
* Oil markets opened cautiously in Asia on Friday as traders monitored a tropical storm heading for the Gulf of Mexico and as Chinese markets remained closed.
* The U.S. dollar gained on Thursday as data pointed to solid U.S. economic growth. It was quoted around 112.82 yen early Friday.
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