KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 2 — The ringgit continued to close higher against the United States (US) dollar on Thursday, as the US government shutdown, which started today, has taken a toll on the greenback.
At 6pm, the local note inched up to 4.2040/2090 versus the US dollar compared with Wednesday’s close of 4.2045/2095.
Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd's chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the shutdown will restrict government services, including the release of statistical data, resulting in further uncertainty about the country’s current economic condition.
At the close, the ringgit was lower against a basket of major currencies.
It declined versus the euro to 4.9410/9468 from 4.9327/9386 at Wednesday’s close, slipped vis-à-vis the British pound to 5.6741/6809 from 5.6605/6672 yesterday, and weakened against the Japanese yen to 2.8669/8705 from 2.8561/8597 previously.
The local note was primarily traded lower or flat against Asean currencies.
It appreciated versus the Thai baht to 12.9829/13.0040 from 12.9929/13.0128 at yesterday's close.
However, the ringgit eased vis-à-vis the Singapore dollar to 3.2665/2707 from 3.2623/2665 on Wednesday, fell against the Indonesian rupiah to 253.2/253.6 from 252.7/253.1 yesterday and was flat versus the Philippine peso at 7.23/7.25 compared with 7.23/7.24 previously.
