Ringgit gains against US dollar after US markets show deflation

KUALA LUMPUR – The ringgit opened slightly easier against the US dollar following signs of deflation in the United States markets, said an analyst. 

At 9.09am, the local note was traded at 4.5355/5415 against the greenback, compared with 4.5255/5280 at the close last Friday.

SPI Asset Management managing director Stephen Innes said the ringgit’s improvement last week was a little too optimistic, given China’s negative outlook and the expectation of more rate cuts on the way, which should weaken the Chinese yuan.

“This could see the ringgit pull back a touch this week or at least consolidate last week’s gains,” he said.

Innes noted that China’s second-quarter 2023 gross domestic product and industrial production data will be the focus today, and the ringgit’s movement will depend on the reports.

“Strong data from China will support the Chinese yuan and pull the ringgit along for the ride,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist and social finance head Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the ringgit could stabilise at the current level as the market awaits the US Federal Open Market Committee meeting next week.

He also said that concerns over the sustainability of China’s recovery would mean that the People’s Bank of China would continue to remain dovish in its monetary policy stand.

“All in all, I believe the MYR/USD will linger around RM4.52 to RM4.53 today,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the ringgit traded lower against a basket of major currencies.

It fell vis-a-vis the euro to 5.0902/0969 from 5.0799/0827 at Friday’s close, slipped against the British pound to 5.9370/9448 from 5.9338/9371 previously, and slid versus the Japanese yen to 3.2747/2795 from 3.2659/2679 last week.

The local note also traded easier against other Asean currencies.

The ringgit dipped against the Thai baht to 13.0857/1091 from last Friday’s close of 13.0689/0814 and declined against the Singapore dollar to 3.4321/4369 from 3.4263/4287 previously.

It had also eased against the Indonesian rupiah to 303.1/303.7 from 302.5/302.8 last week and weakened against the Philippines’ peso to 8.33/8.35 from 8.31/8.33 previously. – Bernama, July 17, 2023