Ringgit Likely To Trade Within RM4.22-RM4.24 Vs Greenback Next Week Ahead Of Fed Decision
By Fatin Umairah Abdul Hamid
KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 (Bernama) -- The ringgit is expected to hover between RM4.22 and RM4.24 next week as the US Federal Reserve (Fed) is anticipated to maintain its policy rate, said an analyst.
Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said this outlook is tied to the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, scheduled for July 29–30, 2025.
"Based on the interest rate futures market, the Fed is likely to keep the Federal Funds Rate steady at 4.50 per cent. Technical indicators suggest that the US dollar-ringgit exchange rate is currently in a neutral zone," he told Bernama.
Meanwhile, SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes expects the ringgit to trade within a relatively narrow range of 4.2080–4.2280, with trade-related headlines and external sentiment continuing to drive short-term direction.
On a Friday-to-Friday basis, the ringgit ended the week better against the greenback, closing at 4.2195/2245 versus 4.2410/2455 previously.
However, the local note traded lower against a basket of major currencies.
The ringgit depreciated vis-à-vis the Japanese yen to 2.8529/8565 from 2.8517/8549 and declined versus the euro to 4.9507/9566 from 4.9336/9388 at the end of last week.
However, it gained against the British pound to 5.6786/6853 from 5.6999/7060 last Friday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Ringgit gains as trade tensions ease, US-China talks in focus
KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened higher on Tuesday against the US dollar and other major and regional currencies, supported by easing global trade tensions that lifted investor sentiment, an analyst said. At 8.01 am, the local note rose to 4.2140/2460 against the greenback from Monday's close of 4.2275/2345. However, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the US Dollar Index (DXY) had strengthened, buoyed by optimism ahead of upcoming US-China trade talks. The DXY gained 1.03 per cent to 98.653 points, as officials from both countries were in discussions in Sweden on a possible trade truce, he told Bernama. 'At the same time, the two-day Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, which begins today, will be in the spotlight, with consensus expecting no change to the Fed Funds Rate. 'In addition, the US labour market will be closely watched, with July's Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report due on Friday. The market expects a softer print of 108,000, down from 147,000 in June,' he said. Mohd Afzanizam noted that the ringgit had weakened 0.21 per cent against the US dollar to RM4.2310 on Monday, amid ongoing trade negotiations between Malaysia and the United States. Malaysia is actively engaging the US to avert the impending 25 per cent tariffs set to take effect on Aug 1, seeking a rate below 20 per cent. Meanwhile, the extended US-China negotiations could signal a prolonged truce, suggesting the administration of US President Donald Trump remains sensitive to the tariffs' potential impact on the domestic economy. 'However, tariff shocks are likely to increase downside risks to global growth in the second half of 2025 and beyond, as higher costs of doing business in the US could dampen aggregate demand. 'The current term of the Fed chair ends in May next year, and it appears likely that Jerome Powell's successor will be more aligned with the US President's preference for lower interest rates as a policy stance,' he added. Mohd Afzanizam expects the ringgit to trade in a narrow range, likely between RM4.23 and RM4.24 today. At the opening, the ringgit traded higher against most major currencies. It rose against the Japanese yen to 2.8383/8600 from 2.8497/8546 at Monday's close, appreciated versus the British pound to 5.6286/6714 from 5.6720/6814, and strengthened against the euro to 4.8861/9232 from 4.9331/9412 previously. The local note was also firmer against regional peers. It improved against the Indonesian rupiah to 257.4/259.6 from 258.3/258.9, gained versus the Singapore dollar to 3.2750/3004 from 3.2917/2974, strengthened against the Thai baht to 12.9626/13.0702 from 13.0511/0787, and inched up against the Philippine peso to 7.37/7.43 from 7.39/7.41 previously. - Bernama
Malay Mail
an hour ago
- Malay Mail
Ringgit climbs as easing trade tensions lift investor sentiment
KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — The ringgit opened higher on Tuesday against the US dollar and other major and regional currencies, supported by easing global trade tensions that lifted investor sentiment, an analyst said. At 8.01am, the local note rose to 4.2140/2460 against the greenback from Monday's close of 4.2275/2345. However, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the US Dollar Index (DXY) had strengthened, buoyed by optimism ahead of upcoming US-China trade talks. The DXY gained 1.03 per cent to 98.653 points, as officials from both countries were in discussions in Sweden on a possible trade truce, he told Bernama. 'At the same time, the two-day Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, which begins today, will be in the spotlight, with consensus expecting no change to the Fed Funds Rate. 'In addition, the US labour market will be closely watched, with July's Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report due on Friday. The market expects a softer print of 108,000, down from 147,000 in June,' he said. Mohd Afzanizam noted that the ringgit had weakened 0.21 per cent against the US dollar to RM4.2310 on Monday, amid ongoing trade negotiations between Malaysia and the United States. Malaysia is actively engaging the US to avert the impending 25 per cent tariffs set to take effect on Aug 1, seeking a rate below 20 per cent. Meanwhile, the extended US-China negotiations could signal a prolonged truce, suggesting the administration of US President Donald Trump remains sensitive to the tariffs' potential impact on the domestic economy. 'However, tariff shocks are likely to increase downside risks to global growth in the second half of 2025 and beyond, as higher costs of doing business in the US could dampen aggregate demand. 'The current term of the Fed chair ends in May next year, and it appears likely that Jerome Powell's successor will be more aligned with the US President's preference for lower interest rates as a policy stance,' he added. Mohd Afzanizam expects the ringgit to trade in a narrow range, likely between RM4.23 and RM4.24 today. At the opening, the ringgit traded higher against most major currencies. It rose against the Japanese yen to 2.8383/8600 from 2.8497/8546 at Monday's close, appreciated versus the British pound to 5.6286/6714 from 5.6720/6814, and strengthened against the euro to 4.8861/9232 from 4.9331/9412 previously. The local note was also firmer against regional peers. It improved against the Indonesian rupiah to 257.4/259.6 from 258.3/258.9, gained versus the Singapore dollar to 3.2750/3004 from 3.2917/2974, strengthened against the Thai baht to 12.9626/13.0702 from 13.0511/0787, and inched up against the Philippine peso to 7.37/7.43 from 7.39/7.41 previously. — Bernama
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
Ringgit Opens Higher On Easing Trade Tensions
WORLD By Karina Imran KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- The ringgit opened higher on Tuesday against the US dollar and other major and regional currencies, supported by easing global trade tensions that lifted investor sentiment, an analyst said. At 8.01 am, the local note rose to 4.2140/2460 against the greenback from Monday's close of 4.2275/2345. However, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the US Dollar Index (DXY) had strengthened, buoyed by optimism ahead of upcoming US-China trade talks. The DXY gained 1.03 per cent to 98.653 points, as officials from both countries were in discussions in Sweden on a possible trade truce, he told Bernama. 'At the same time, the two-day Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, which begins today, will be in the spotlight, with consensus expecting no change to the Fed Funds Rate. 'In addition, the US labour market will be closely watched, with July's Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report due on Friday. The market expects a softer print of 108,000, down from 147,000 in June,' he said. Mohd Afzanizam noted that the ringgit had weakened 0.21 per cent against the US dollar to RM4.2310 on Monday, amid ongoing trade negotiations between Malaysia and the United States. Malaysia is actively engaging the US to avert the impending 25 per cent tariffs set to take effect on Aug 1, seeking a rate below 20 per cent.
