RINGGIT EASES AGAINST US DOLLAR AMID GLOBAL ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES

By Nurunnasihah Ahmad Rashid

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- The ringgit retreated versus the US dollar at the close today due to renewed concerns over global economic uncertainties and mixed signals from the United States’ (US) monetary policy front, said an economist.

At 6 pm, the local currency dropped to 4.3835/3905 against the greenback, from Monday’s close of 4.3670/3735.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the ringgit saw some slight correction against the US dollar at RM4.3850 from the previous day's closing.

“The degree of uncertainties remained, but traders may have taken some positions as the dollar index (DXY) appears to have reached an attractive level," he told Bernama.

Having said that, US President Donald Trump’s strong criticism of the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and its potential implications for the Fed’s independence in setting monetary policy remain key concerns, Mohd Afzanizam added.

“The tariff situation is also unlikely to subside in the near term, adding further pressure to risk currencies like the ringgit,” he said.

Back home, the ringgit traded mostly lower against a basket of major currencies.

It fell against the Japanese yen to 3.1206/1260 from 3.1046/1095 at Monday’s close and declined against the British pound to 5.8590/8683 compared with 5.8513/8601 yesterday, but improved against the euro to 5.0362/0442 from 5.0408/0483 previously.

The local note also slipped against ASEAN currencies.

It decreased against the Singapore dollar to 3.3523/3579 from 3.3515/3570 at the close on Monday, slid against the Philippine peso to 7.73/7.75 from 7.71/7.73 yesterday, depreciated against the Thai baht to 13.1930/2212 from 13.1914/2170 and eased against the Indonesian rupiah at 259.9/260.5, compared with 259.8/260.3 previously.

-- BERNAMA