<p>By Ruth Chai</p>
<p>April 16 (Reuters) -</p>
<ul>
<li>Japanese rubber futures were on track to snap a six-day losing streak on Thursday, as hopes of a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran improved risk appetite, while upbeat economic data in top consumer China also lifted the sentiment.</li>
<li>The Osaka Exchange (OSE) rubber contract for September delivery  (JRUc6)   (0#2JRU:)  was up 0.9 yen, or 0.23%, at 389.5 yen ($2.45) per kg as of 0207 GMT.</li>
<li>The rubber contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) for September delivery  (SNRv1)  rose 135 yuan, or 0.81%, to 16,885 yuan ($2,476.31) per metric ton.</li>
<li>The most active May butadiene rubber contract on the SHFE (SHBRv1)  gained 65 yuan, or 0.4%, to 16,170 yuan per metric ton.</li>
<li>Stocks pushed higher in early Asia trading on Thursday as optimism grew about a deal to end the Iran war, with the U.S. ratcheting up pressure on Tehran, improving sentiment for commodities.</li>
<li>Japan’s Nikkei climbed 1.8% to the brink of an all-time high on Thursday, surpassing 59,000.</li>
<li>Oil prices fell in early trade as hopes for easing U.S.-Iran tensions, following reports that Iran could allow ships to pass through around the Strait of Hormuz, outweighed concerns over ongoing supply disruptions.  (O/R)</li>
<li>In addition, top consumer China’s economy grew 5.0% in the first quarter from a year earlier, official data showed, beating analysts’ expectations of 4.8% growth.</li>
<li>Rainfall in China’s rubber-producing province of Yunnan has alleviated worries of tight supply due to high temperatures and drought, according to Chinese broker GF Futures.</li>
<li>Tapping season is also set to begin in top-producer Thailand, as well as Vietnam.</li>
<li>Rubber crops usually undergo a season of low production from February to April, before a peak harvesting period that lasts until September.</li>
<li>The front-month rubber contract on Singapore Exchange’s SICOM platform for May delivery  (STFc1)  last traded at 204 U.S. cents per kg, up 0.2%. ($1 = 158.7700 yen) ($1 = 6.8186 yuan)</li>
</ul>

03153

1346

1369

07262

1397

513880

Reuters

CSOP NIKKEI225

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.

Asset Management One Co., Ltd.

FL2 CSOP NIKKEI

MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings, Inc.

Huaan MUFG N225 ETF(QDII)

Japan Exchange

GF SEC

GF SECURITIES

RUBBER-Japan futures firm on US-Iran peace hopes, upbeat China data