RUBBER — Japan futures fall as Tokyo equities slump, China imports weaken

By Emily Ou Yong Oct 15 (Reuters) — Japanese rubber futures fell on Thursday, as a slump in Tokyo equities, weaker Chinese rubber imports, and profit-taking after a recent rally weighed on sentiment. The Osaka Exchange (OSE) rubber contract for March delivery was down 6.4 yen, or 1.41%, at 447 yen ($2.83) per kg as of 0055 GMT The rubber contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) for January delivery slumped 575 yuan, or 2.84%, to 19,640 yuan ($2,934.58) per metric ton The most active November butadiene rubber contract on the SHFE fell 425 yuan, or 2.64%, to 15,675 yuan per metric ton Rubber prices may be tracking broader risk sentiment and profit-taking following a recent run-up, a Singapore-based trader said With prices now near support levels, short positions could face a squeeze given the continued tightness in raw material supply, the trader said Japan's Nikkei share average slumped in early trading on Thursday, with tech stocks hit hard after hot US inflation figures sparked fears of higher interest rates.T China imported 588,000 tons of natural and synthetic rubber in September, down 20.8% from 742,000 tons a year earlier, the General Administration of Customs of China