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THE ringgit opened stronger against the US dollar on Thursday as the greenback weakened in tandem with sliding US Treasury yields. At 8.03am, the Malaysian currency stood at 4.1295/1395 compared with Wednesday’s close of 4.1315/1385.
IPPFA Sdn Bhd director of investment strategy and country economist Mohd Sedek Jantan said yields continued their downward drift, with the benchmark 10-year US Treasury yield falling 4.5 basis points to 4.065 per cent — its lowest level this month and almost 10 basis points below recent highs.
“Markets are turning cautious ahead of key US economic data expected next week, following the House’s overnight passage of the continuing resolution bill,” he told Bernama.
Mohd Sedek cautioned that a prolonged US government shutdown could have broader consequences, including the possibility of delays to November’s employment report due on 5 December and to the forthcoming consumer price index release.
“Any postponement would leave the Federal Open Market Committee approaching its December rate decision with significantly less information than usual, heightening policy uncertainty,” he said.
Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the ringgit had now moved into an overbought zone.
“In light of uncertainties over the timing of the US government reopening, we expect traders to remain cautious,” he said, noting that the currency is expected to hover between RM4.13 and RM4.14 throughout the day.
At the opening, the ringgit posted a mixed performance against major currencies. It strengthened against the Japanese yen to 2.6669/6736 from 2.6681/6728 and rose against the British pound to 5.4187/4319 from 5.4189/4281, but slipped against the euro to 4.7857/7973 from 4.7801/7882.
Against regional units, the ringgit gained on the Indonesian rupiah at 246.9/247.7 from 247.1/247.7 and held flat against the Philippine peso at 6.98/7.00. It eased against the Thai baht to 12.7564/7956 from 12.7068/7346 and fell against the Singapore dollar to 3.1712/1791 from 3.1683/1742. - November 14, 2025