Ringgit opens weaker against US dollar

Ringgit opens weaker against US dollar

Market awaits Russian-Ukrainian conflict updates, as well as US Fed speeches and data.

KUALA LUMPUR:
The ringgit opened lower against the US dollar today as the market awaits the latest development on the Russia-Ukraine geopolitical tensions, as well as a slew of speeches and data releases from US Federal Reserve policymakers.

At 9.06am, the local currency fell to 4.1860/1895 versus the greenback from Friday’s close of 4.1845/1870.

A dealer said the Russia-Ukraine crisis appears to be the primary driver for currency markets, and US economic data due out this week will add to the pressure on the forex market and send traders to the sidelines.

“US Fed Governor Michelle Bowman will speak today at the American Bankers Association Conference for Community Bankers, followed by the release of US manufacturing data and the second estimate of the fourth quarter of 2021 US GDP report later this week,” he added.

The local note was traded mostly higher against a basket of major currencies.

It rose against the Singapore dollar to 3.1111/1139 from 3.1149/1170 at Friday’s close, appreciated vis-a-vis the British pound to 5.6930/6977 from 5.7001/7035 and improved against the euro to 4.7427/7467 from 4.7578/7606.

The local note, however, eased versus the yen to 3.6391/6424 from 3.6340/6361.

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