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THE ringgit is expected to maintain a cautious trading stance next week as market participants await crucial economic indicators from the United States, including the Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index and the producer price index (PPI), alongside speeches from several Federal Reserve officials.
Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd’s Chief Economist, Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, noted that investor sentiment is likely to remain measured in the near term.
“Ringgit could still be lingering within a range of RM3.90 to RM3.93, with RM3.90 continuing to remain the psychological barrier,” he told Bernama.
The local currency ended the week stronger against the US dollar, closing at 3.8995/9055 compared with 3.9060/9115 the previous Friday. It also posted gains against a basket of major global currencies.
Against the Japanese yen, the ringgit strengthened to 2.5092/5132 from 2.5435/5474, while rising versus the British pound to 5.2511/2591 from 5.3211/3286.
The note appreciated against the euro, closing at 4.5882/5952 compared with 4.6325/6390 a week earlier.
Regionally, the ringgit outperformed several of its ASEAN peers. It gained against the Singapore dollar to 3.0724/0774 from 3.0904/0950, edged higher versus the Indonesian rupiah at 230.8/231.3 from 231.9/232.4, rose against the Philippine peso to 6.70/6.72 from 6.73/6.74, and strengthened versus the Thai baht to 12.4952/5216 from 12.5607/5849 previously.
Dr Mohd Afzanizam emphasised that while the ringgit has shown resilience in the face of global market fluctuations, traders are likely to adopt a cautious approach until more definitive signals emerge from upcoming US economic releases and Federal Reserve commentary. - February 21, 2026