Ringgit slips against US dollar and major currencies at opening
The US Dollar Index rose 0.17 per cent despite weaker US consumer confidence and job openings data.
The ringgit weakened against the US dollar and other major currencies at the opening on 30 September, amid reduced appetite for risk following weaker US consumer data. At 8.02 am, it stood at 4.0795/0850 per dollar, compared with the previous closing rate of 4.0790/0850.
Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam said US consumer confidence in September was at its lowest since April 2014. He told Bernama that survey respondents linked their pessimism to expensive goods and services, particularly oil and gas.
He also cited August's Job Openings and Labour Turnover Survey (JOLTS) figure of 7.079 million, below the consensus estimate of 7.23 million. Despite the weaker data, the US Dollar Index (DXY) gained 0.17 per cent to reach 101.372 points as US Federal Reserve officials maintained a hawkish monetary policy stance, he said.
Against the euro, the ringgit moved to 4.6257/6320, compared with 4.6235/6303 at the preceding close. Sterling fetched 5.3960/4032 versus 5.3937/4016, while the Japanese yen rate shifted to 2.5921/5958 from 2.5869/5909.
Regional trading also saw losses against the Singapore dollar, at 3.1921/1969 versus 3.1885/1934, and the Thai baht, at 12.1540/1759 versus 12.1402/1632. The Indonesian rupiah rate barely moved, at 226.9/227.2 compared with 226.8/227.2, while the Philippine peso rate held at 6.52/6.53.
