Ringgit rises as BNM keeps OPR at 3%

Ringgit rises as BNM keeps OPR at 3%

As traders trim long US dollar positions, regional currencies continue to firm up, says analyst.

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KUALA LUMPUR:
The ringgit closed higher against the US dollar for the third consecutive day as the greenback’s safe-haven status weakened due to a mix of slowing US economic data, tariff uncertainty, and unpredictable policymaking, prompting traders to look elsewhere, said an analyst.

SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes noted that the US dollar remained on the back foot for now.

“Unless the US economy experiences an unexpected surge that significantly shocks the markets, the path of least resistance appears lower over the short-term,” he told Bernama.

Innes said the broad US dollar selloff is fuelling strength across the Asian foreign exchange market, with the ringgit gaining ground.

“As traders trim long dollar positions, regional currencies continue to firm up,” he noted.

On the policy front, Innes said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM)’s decision to keep its policy rate steady at 3% was a clear demonstration of patience and prudence.

“With inflation contained and growth remaining steady, there is no urgency to adjust rates – a measured move to preserve policy flexibility for future challenges,” he added.

At 6pm, the domestic unit rose to 4.4230/4.4270 against the US dollar from 4.4270/4.4320 at yesterday’s close.

Meanwhile, the ringgit was traded lower against major currencies.

It was lower against the British pound at 5.6964/5.7015 from 5.6825/5.6889 yesterday, slipped versus the euro to 4.7773/4.7816 from 4.7409/4.7462 and fell vis-a-vis the Japanese yen to 2.9940/2.9969 from 2.9614/2.9647 previously.

The local currency traded mixed against Asean currencies.

It eased against the Singapore dollar to 3.3186/3.3218 from 3.3126/3.3166 but went up against the Thai baht to 13.0939/13.1124 from 13.1545/13.1756.

The ringgit increased against the Indonesian rupiah at today’s close of 270.6/271 from 271.3/271.8 yesterday and was almost unchanged against the Philippine peso at 7.71/7.73 from 7.72/7.73 yesterday.

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