Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Afzanizam Rashid said the US Dollar Index was higher by 0.07% at 106.602 points.

“The third quarter (Q3) 2023 US gross domestic product growth was surprisingly stronger-than-expected at 4.9% quarter-on-quarter (consensus: 4.3%) with investment surging 8.4% (Q2: 5.2%) alongside strong out-turn in consumer spending which gained 4% from merely 0.8% in the prior quarter,” he told Bernama.

At 9am, the ringgit rose to 4.7770/4.7810 against the greenback from Thursday’s close of 4.7855/4.7885.

In early trade, the ringgit was mostly higher versus a basket of major currencies.

The ringgit edged up against the Japanese yen to 3.1766/3.1795 from 3.1838/3.1860 at the close on Thursday, increased marginally against the euro to 5.0436/5.0478 from 5.0468/5.0500, but weakened versus the British pound to 5.7931/5.7979 from 5.7847/5.7883 yesterday.

The local note was also traded mostly higher against other Asean currencies.

It rose against the Singapore dollar to 3.4871/3.4903 from 3.4900/3.4925 yesterday, strengthened against the Thai baht to 13.1867/13.2028 from 13.1952/13.2097 and was slightly higher versus the Philippine peso at 8.39/8.41 from 8.40/8.41.

The ringgit was almost flat against the Indonesian rupiah at 300.0/300.4 from 300.5/300.9 yesterday.