Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian rubber market is expected to trade with upward bias next week, leveraging on improved sentiment arising from recent China-United States (US) trade talks, said industry expert Denis Low. He said the news might provide some relief to traders and influence the market sentiment while demand for the commodity is expected to increase.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Denis Low expressed optimism, noting that the world has heaved a sigh of relief, which could positively impact commerce. He anticipates renewed enthusiasm in buying and stocking ahead of the impending North-East monsoon season. This sentiment is bolstered by a storm warning issued by the Thai Meteorological Department for southern Thailand due to shifting monsoon patterns, which could affect supply.

In Malaysia, the Meteorological Department has issued a thunderstorm warning for several states, potentially hampering productivity and raising supply concerns. Despite these challenges, the trade talks are seen as a positive development for the market.

On a Friday-to-Friday basis, the Malaysian Rubber Board’s reference price for Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 (SMR 20) declined by 17.5 sen to 731 sen per kilogramme (kg), while latex-in-bulk fell by 3.0 sen to 565.50 sen per kg.