Kuala lumpur: The Kuala Lumpur rubber market ended mixed on Friday, supported by positive global economic data, a dealer said.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Eurozone economy expanded by 0.4 per cent in the second quarter of 2026, exceeding market expectations of 0.2 per cent, signalling stronger-than-expected economic activity. The continued expansion in global electric vehicle (EV) sales also lifted market sentiment. Global EV sales increased by four per cent year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, despite an overall decline in vehicle sales by about five per cent, supporting long-term demand from the tyre industry.

The resilient United States (US) labour market conditions also supported the rubber market. The US labour market remained resilient, with weekly initial jobless claims at 197,000, indicating stable economic conditions.

Nevertheless, gains were capped by lower crude oil prices. Oil prices slipped as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz improved, easing concerns over supply disruptions despite continued US-Iran tensions. Additionally, weakness in regional rubber futures markets also weighed on prices.

At 3 pm, the price of Standard Malaysian Rubber 20 (SMR 20) increased by 13.50 sen to 892 sen per kilogramme (kg), while latex in bulk dropped by one sen to 695.5 sen per kg.