TOKYO, May 27 (Reuters) - Benchmark TOCOM rubber futures ticked down in early Tuesday trade, as a dip in oil prices offset gains made by the Japanese equities and as investors eyed political developments in top rubber exporter Thailand.

FUNDAMENTALS

* The new benchmark Tokyo Commodity Exchange rubber contract for November delivery JRUc6 0#2JRU: was down 0.4 yen from its opening price at 208.0 yen per kg by 0012 GMT.

* The October contract finished 1.7 yen higher on Monday.

ID:nL3N0OC1PL

* Japan's net external assets rose to a record 325 trillion yen as of the end of last year as a weak yen boosted the value of overseas holdings, making the country the world's biggest creditor nation for 23 years in a row, the finance ministry said on Tuesday. ID:nT9N0NT00H

* Thai coup leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Monday he had been formally endorsed by the king as head of a military council that will run the country, and warned he would use force if political protests flare up again. ID:nL3N0OC0RZ

* The Bank of Japan has begun shifting its focus from supporting growth to ways of phasing out its massive stimulus, taking first tentative steps towards a potentially momentous move for the world economy. ID:nL3N0OB00A

* Ivory Coast exported 133,927 tonnes of rubber from January to April, up more than 33 percent from the previous year, provisional port data showed on Monday. ID:nL6N0OC3T4

* For the top stories in the rubber market and other news, click TOP/CE , TOP/MACRO or RUB/T

MARKET NEWS

* The U.S. dollar was quoted around 101.96 yen JPY= early on Tuesday, almost steady and near a 1-1/2 week high set on Monday. FRX/

* Japan's benchmark Nikkei stock average .N225 edged up 0.5 percent in Tuesday trade, to extend its winning streak to a fourth day. MKTS/GLOB

* Brent crude eased to near $110 a barrel on Monday, down from last week's two-and-a-half month high, as worries over Ukraine eased slightly following a presidential election. O/R

DATA/EVENTS (GMT)

* The following data is expected on Tuesday: (Time in GMT)

0645 France Consumer confidence May

0800 Italy Consumer confidence May

1230 U.S. Durable goods orders April

1300 U.S. Monthly home price index March

1300 U.S. S&P/Case-Shiller home prices March

1400 U.S. Consumer confidence May

1400 U.S. Richmond Fed composite index May

1430 U.S. Dallas Fed manufacturing index May

(Reporting by James Topham; Editing by Richard Pullin)

((james.topham@thomsonreuters.com)(+813 6441 1858)(Reuters Messaging: james.topham.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 

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