KUALA LUMPUR (July 25): The ringgit opened on a stronger note against the US dollar on Monday (July 25) on renewed buying interest, ahead of the US Federal Reserve’s (Fed) meeting on July 27 to 28, said an analyst.
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At 9am, the local currency rose to 4.4510/4535 versus the greenback from last Friday’s close of 4.4515/4545.
Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the meeting would be the centre of gravity as the Fed might increase the Federal Funds Rate between 75 and 100 basis points.
Valuation of bonds looking attractive amid rate hike cycle
Bank Negara Malaysia raised the overnight policy rate (OPR) by 25 basis points to 2% on May 11, 2022, which was a surprise move relative to the Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) statements in March, where it held rates unchanged and appeared dovish.
“Hope for a change in their tack is perhaps somewhat remote, but it is always a possibility especially when there are signs of an economic slowdown based on the preliminary readings in the Purchasing Managers’ Index which has fallen recently,” he told Bernama.
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He also said the ringgit would likely remain fragile this week.
While it opened firmer versus the greenback, the local note traded weaker against a basket of other major currencies.
The local currency dipped against the Singapore dollar to 3.2019/2042 from 3.2011/2038 at Friday’s close and fell versus the British pound to 5.3243/3273 from 5.3187/3222 previously.
It also declined versus the Japanese yen to 3.2599/2622 from 3.2389/2413 at the end of last week and depreciated vis-a-vis the euro to 4.5320/5346 from 4.5201/5231.-BERNAMA