Kuala lumpur: The Kuala Lumpur rubber market ended mixed, pressured by falling crude oil prices and the downward momentum in regional rubber futures, a trader said. He noted that oil prices dropped on Friday, extending earlier losses due to easing supply concerns following a reduced likelihood of a United States strike on Iran.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Oxford Economics graduate economist Jack Reid mentioned that Brent crude prices are expected to face sustained downward pressure throughout 2026. Prices are projected to end the year at around US$57 per barrel, as additional supply enters a global oil market that is already in surplus.

A slowdown in China's gross domestic product data and heightened global political tensions also weighed on sentiment. The trader highlighted that China's growth is expected to slow to 4.5 percent in 2026-2027, raising pressure for stimulus to address structural weaknesses.

Despite these factors, losses were limited by a softer ringgit against the US dollar and concerns over raw material shortages due to the rainy season in major producing countries. Market sentiment was additionally supported by positive US economic data and optimism for additional Chinese stimulus.

The trader pointed out that US jobless claims fell to 198,000 last week, indicating continued strength in the labour market. At 3 pm, Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) 20 fell 4.5 sen to 748 sen per kilogramme, while latex-in-bulk remained unchanged at 576 sen per kg.