Tokyo futures down nearly 4 pct on demand worries

BANGKOK, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Tokyo rubber futures tumbled nearly 4 percent to the lowest since October 2009 on Tuesday as stop-loss selling emerged as the market fell on concerns about weaker demand after Japan released soft GDP data, dealers said.

The benchmark rubber contract on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange for January delivery fell 6.3 yen to settle at 207.6 yen ($2.65) per kg.

It fell as low as 8.3 yen, or 3.9 percent, to an intra-day low of 205.6 yen, the lowest since October 2009.

The most-active rubber contract on t he Shanghai futures exchange for January delivery dropped 265 yuan to finish at 21,380 yuan ($3,400) per tonne.

The contract fell more than 4 percent to 20,700 yuan per tonne.

The front-month September rubber contract on Singapore's SICOM exchange was last traded at 242.5 U.S. cents per kg, down 5.3 cents.

"Japan's GDP disappointed the market, triggering a broad sell-off, while weak Chinese trade figures kept pressure on the rubber futures," said a Bangkok-based trader.

Japan's economy expanded just 0.3 percent in April-June, half of the pace expected, raising doubts about the strength of the recovery as a rebound in consumer spending loses momentum and Europe's debt crisis weighs on worldwide demand.

China's imports of key commodities, such as iron ore and copper, held up better than expected in July, but weak trade figures and a nine-month low in crude oil imports painted a picture of a lowing economy.

Dealers said they expected the 200 yen level to be a major support level for TOCOM prices and the prices could rebound slightly on Wednesday if oil prices remain firm.

Brent crude held steady above $113 per barrel on Tuesday as investors awaited economic growth data out of Europe to gauge the region's energy demand outlook, while tensions in the Middle East supported prices.

($1 = 78.3200 Japanese yen)

($1 = 6.3616 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat; Editing by Ed Davies)

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