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THE ringgit opened marginally weaker against the US dollar on Tuesday, with analysts expecting the currency to trade within a narrow band as investors adopt a guarded stance ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee’s two-day policy meeting.
At 8am, the Malaysian currency slipped to 4.1120/1220 against the greenback, compared with Monday’s close of 4.1100/1145.
Bank Muamalat Malaysia chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid noted that the US Dollar Index had strengthened by 0.10 per cent to 99.087 points as the FOMC meeting approached.
“US Treasury bond yields were also higher as fixed income traders and investors become increasingly wary about what could be said and projected when the FOMC meeting concludes tomorrow,” he told Bernama.
He said markets had effectively priced in a 25-basis-point rate cut by the Federal Reserve, citing recent labour market, business and consumer sentiment data.
“Nonetheless, the interest rate path in 2026 remains debatable, although the new Fed chairman could be pro-monetary easing,” he added.
Across regional currencies, the ringgit opened firmer against the Singapore dollar at 3.1687/1769 from 3.1698/1735 on Monday.
The currency also eased slightly against the Indonesian rupiah to 246.2/247.0 from 246.1/246.5, and strengthened against the Thai baht to 12.8822/9224 from 12.9006/9204.
It was little changed against the Philippine peso at 6.97/7.00 compared with 6.97/6.98 previously. - December 9, 2025