KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 — The ringgit is expected to trade within a narrow range of between RM3.95 and RM3.97 next week against the US dollar amid a shortened trading week.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said that next week, the focus would be on the United States’ personal consumption expenditures (PCE) inflation data for April.

“It seems the PCE is likely to be on the high side in light of the elevated petrol prices during April. In addition, it is a holiday-shortened week following the Aidiadha celebration on Wednesday.

“Hence, ringgit will maintain its narrow range trade,” he added.

Mohd Afzanizam said while the ringgit is expected to move in a narrow range, Malaysia’s macroeconomic matrices are fairly decent.

“Our surplus in the current account balance widened to 3.0 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of this year (1Q 2026) from 0.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of last year.

“Fiscal deficits narrowed to 3.3 per cent of GDP in 1Q 2026 from 4.5 per cent in 1Q 2025,” he said.

He also noted that Malaysia’s foreign exchange reserve has risen to US$129.5 billion as of May 15, 2026 compared to US$125.5 billion on Dec 31, 2025.

The ringgit was lower against the US dollar at 3.9655/9700 on Friday from 3.9515/9580 the week before.

The local note traded mostly easier against a basket of major currencies this week.

It fell versus the British pound to 5.3245/3305 from 5.2749/2835, appreciated against the euro to 4.6012/6064 from 4.5948/6024 but gained versus the Japanese yen to 2.4925/4954 from 2.4927/4968.

The ringgit also traded mostly lower against its Asean peers.

It rose versus the Indonesian rupiah to 223.8/224.1 from 224.5/225.0 but it eased vis-a-vis the Singapore dollar to 3.0985/1023 from 3.0871/0927, fell against the Thai baht to 12.1421/1611 from 12.0989/1247 and declined against the Philippine peso to 6.42/6.44 from 6.40/6.41.

The market will be closed on May 27 in conjunction with the Aidiladha public holiday and will resume operations on May 28.

It would also be closed on June 1 and 2 for the King’s Birthday and Wesak Day holidays, before resuming operations on June 3. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 — The ringgit retreated against the US dollar on Friday, ending a three-day winning streak as investors focused on geopolitical tensions and the increasingly hawkish stance adopted by central banks globally.

At 6pm, the ringgit fell to 3.9655/9700 versus the greenback from 3.9595/9630 at Thursday’s close.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the ringgit was mostly in a narrow range with the US dollar today, languishing around RM3.9583 to RM3.9688.

“The ongoing negotiation between the United States and Iran are still the main focus while central banks across the globe seems to be taking a more hawkish stance,” he told Bernama.

The ringgit firmed against the US dollar for the past three days as market sentiment improved on the back of Malaysia’s trade performance, which rose 28.6 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) to a record RM336.73 billion in April 2026.

The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) earlier this week reported that the higher export figures were driven mainly by strong exports of electrical and electronic (E&E) products.

Malaysia’s trade maintained strong momentum in April 2026 with exports and imports reaching record highs despite heightened global uncertainties, including geopolitical tensions in West Asia that led to higher logistics costs, supply chain disruptions and commodity price volatility.

MITI also said exports extended their growth momentum for the 10th consecutive month, surging 36.9 per cent to a record RM182.74 billion, surpassing the previous high of RM152.77 billion recorded in December 2025 by RM30 billion, while imports rose 20 per cent to RM153.99 billion.

At the close, the ringgit traded mostly lower against a basket of major currencies.

It weakened versus the Japanese yen to 2.4925/4954 from 2.4906/4929 at Thursday’s close, slid against the British pound to 5.3245/3305 from 5.3220/3267 previously but gained against the euro to 4.6012/6064 from 4.6037/6078 yesterday.

At the same time, the local currency was mixed against regional peers.

It fell against the Singapore dollar to 3.0985/1023 from 3.0967/0997 at the close on Thursday, down against the Thai baht to 12.1421/1611 from 12.1304/1468 yesterday, but edged up against the Indonesian rupiah to 223.8/224.1 from 224.1/224.4 previously.

It was almost flat against the Philippine peso at 6.42/6.44 from 6.43/6.44. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 — The ringgit opened firmer against the US dollar on Thursday, supported by easing geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

At 8am, the local currency strengthened to 3.9655/9710 against the greenback from Wednesday’s close of 3.9675/9715.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said crude oil prices eased after United States President Donald Trump indicated that negotiations between the US and Iran were nearing completion.

He said West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude prices fell 0.82 per cent and 5.46 per cent to US$107.77 per barrel and US$105.20 per barrel, respectively.

“This has raised hopes that the Strait of Hormuz will soon reopen, allowing the free flow of oil, gas and other goods,” he told Bernama.

Mohd Afzanizam said the US Dollar Index declined 0.21 per cent to 99.122 points despite minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting showing policymakers remained inclined to raise interest rates, with inflation expected to stay above the two per cent target for an extended period.

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

The local currency depreciated against the British pound to 5.3265/3338 from 5.3089/3143 at Wednesday’s close, weakened against the euro to 4.6091/6155 from 4.5975/6022 previously, and eased against the Japanese yen to 2.4954/4991 from 2.4942/4969.

Against regional currencies, the ringgit traded mixed.

It weakened against the Thai baht to 12.1723/1963 from 12.1341/1516 and slipped against the Singapore dollar to 3.1027/1072 from 3.0969/1003 previously.

However, the local currency appreciated against the Indonesian rupiah to 224.6/225.0 from 224.7/225.0 previously and strengthened against the Philippine peso to 6.42/6.44 from 6.43/6.44 previously. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — The ringgit opened slightly higher against the US dollar on Tuesday as market sentiment continued to focus on developments in West Asia.

At 8 am, the local unit rose to 3.9705/9760 against the greenback from Monday’s close of 3.9720/9770.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said market sentiment continued to revolve around the situation in West Asia, as the United States (US) and Iran continued negotiations for a resolution, which, to a large extent, remained highly elusive.

"The latest development showed that US President Donald Trump had called off plans to attack Iran as serious negotiations with Tehran are ongoing,” he told Bernama. 

Mohd Afzanizam said that despite ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran, the rise in crude oil prices indicated that concerns over escalating geopolitical tensions persisted.

"Still, West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude oil prices rose 3.07 per cent and 2.60 per cent to US$108.66 per barrel and US$112.10 per barrel, respectively.

"Meanwhile, the US dollar index (DXY) fell 0.34 per cent to 98.947 points,” he said. 

As such, Mohd Afzanizam said the ringgit would likely trade within a narrow range of 3.96 to 3.97 against the US dollar today.

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

The local note weakened against the British pound to 5.3336/3410 from 5.3078/3145 at Monday’s close, slipped against the euro to 4.6276/6340 from 4.6214/6272 previously, and eased against the Japanese yen to 2.4992/5028 from 2.4991/5024.

The ringgit also traded mostly lower against its regional peers.

It weakened against the Thai baht to 12.2053/2305 from 12.1646/1848 and depreciated against the Singapore dollar to 3.1056/1104 from 3.1036/1078 previously.

However, the local currency edged higher against the Indonesian rupiah to 224.7/225.1 from 224.8/225.1 previously.

The ringgit was little changed against the Philippine peso at 6.43/6.44 from 6.43/6.45 previously. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — The ringgit opened slightly higher against the US dollar on Monday although cautious sentiment persisted amid escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

At 8am, the local unit rose to 3.9495/9605 against the greenback from yesterday’s close of 3.9515/9580.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said market sentiment remained cautious as the prolonged stalemate between the US and Iran continued to raise concerns over a wider conflict in the region. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — The ringgit snapped a seven-trading-day rally to ease against the US dollar as traders turned cautious ahead of Malaysia’s first-quarter (1Q) 2026 gross domestic product (GDP) announcement later today.

At 8 am, the ringgit opened easier at 3.9320/9370 against the greenback from Thursday’s close of 3.9300/9330, although it traded firmer against other major currencies.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said today’s focus will be on Malaysia’s 1Q 2026 GDP, with most economists pencilling in growth of 5.3 per cent.

“As such, traders are expected to trade the ringgit cautiously,” he told Bernama amid expectations that the data could boost the local currency.

Meanwhile, Mohd Afzanizam said the US Dollar Index rose 0.36 per cent to 98.874 points after April 2026 US retail sales data indicated consumer spending remained fairly resilient.

At the opening, the ringgit traded higher against a basket of major currencies.

It appreciated against the Japanese yen to 2.4823/4856 from 2.4886/4907, strengthened versus the British pound to 5.2646/2712 from 5.3094/3135, and rose against the euro to 4.5855/5913 from 4.6009/6044 at Thursday’s close.

The local note traded mixed against regional peers.

It climbed against the Singapore dollar to 3.0798/0842 from Thursday’s close of 3.0867/0893 and strengthened against the Thai baht to 12.1171/1392 from 12.1506/1652 previously.

However, the ringgit weakened against the Indonesian rupiah to 224.3/224.7 from yesterday’s close of 224.1/224.4 and slipped against the Philippine peso to 6.38/6.39 from 6.37/6.38. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 — The ringgit opened higher against the US dollar for a seventh straight trading day ahead of the high-stakes meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on May 14-15, 2026.

At 8 am, the local currency strengthened to 3.9265/9330 against the greenback from 3.9285/9325 at Wednesday’s close.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said traders were generally expecting positive outcomes from the meeting between the two leaders.

He added that higher fuel prices amid the war in West Asia had started to feed into inflation, potentially dampening hopes for an interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve (Fed).

At the time of writing, Brent crude oil edged up 0.08 per cent to US$105.71 per barrel.

“However, the situation remains fluid. Growth could come under pressure and the Fed may shift its focus towards supporting the economy,” he told Bernama.

At the opening, the ringgit traded mixed against a basket of major currencies.

It appreciated against the Japanese yen to 2.4872/4914 from 2.4888/4916, but weakened against the British pound to 5.3110/3198 from 5.3105/3160, and slipped versus the euro to 4.6003/6079 from 4.5987/6034 at Wednesday’s close.

The local currency traded mostly higher against regional peers.

It gained against the Singapore dollar to 3.0859/0915 from 3.0872/0906 and strengthened against the Indonesian rupiah to 224.6/225.1 from 224.7/225.1.

The ringgit also edged up against the Philippine peso to 6.39/6.41 from 6.40/6.41, but eased against the Thai baht to 12.1469/1735 from 12.1419/1599 previously. — Bernama

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