Natural rubber production increased 37.8 per cent in June 2021

HONG KONG, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Asian shares failed to follow a strong close on Wall Street with fears about the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus weighing on sentiment even as tame U.S. inflation eased fears the Federal Reserve would rush to reduce its economic support.

SINGAPORE, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Oil prices were steady on Thursday following two days of gains after a call from the United States, the world's top oil consumer, for major producers to boost output reinforced supply concerns as economies ease their coronavirus restrictions.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. consumer prices increases slowed in July even as they remained at a 13-year high on a yearly basis and there were tentative signs inflation has peaked as supply-chain disruptions caused by the pandemic work their way through the economy.

(Reuters) - The U.S. economy is growing at a robust pace and the labor market is rebounding, signaling it is nearly time for the Federal Reserve to start withdrawing its support, several U.S. central bank officials said on Wednesday.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese wholesale prices rose in July at their fastest annual pace in 13 years, data showed on Thursday, a sign the global commodity inflation and a weak yen were pushing up raw material import costs for a broad range of goods.