Ringgit seen firmer next week after Malaysia’s 3Q GDP beats expectations

The ringgit is anticipated to trade with an upward bias between RM4.07 and RM4.09, bolstered by Malaysia's unexpectedly strong GDP growth estimate of 5.3% for the third quarter of 2026.

Bank Muamalat's chief economist, Dr. Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, notes the economy's resilience, particularly in the services sector, driving a cumulative growth of 5.5% for the first nine months of 2026.

The ringgit experienced gains against the US dollar and other ASEAN currencies but depreciated against the euro, yen, and British pound.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 — The ringgit is expected to trade within a tight range with an upward bias next week, between RM4.07 and RM4.09, following Malaysia’s higher-than-expected advance estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the third quarter of 2026 (3Q 2026).

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said Malaysia’s GDP growth, based on the advance estimate for 3Q 2026, came in higher than expected at 5.3 per cent.

“The latest figures suggest that the Malaysian economy remains fairly resilient, and it would not be surprising if full-year GDP growth comes in higher than the current projection of 4.8 to 5.3 per cent, with growth for the first nine months of 2026 (9M 2026) already at 5.5 per cent,” he told Bernama.

On Friday, the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) reported that Malaysia’s economy expanded by 5.3 per cent in 3Q 2026, after registering 6.0 per cent growth in the preceding quarter

Its advance GDP estimates for 3Q 2026 report said all economic sectors, except mining and quarrying, underpinned performance, while mining and quarrying contracted.

Cumulatively, DOSM noted that for the first three quarters of 2026, Malaysia’s economy registered growth of 5.5 per cent, higher than the 4.8 per cent in 2025’s corresponding period.

The services sector remained the main impetus of economic growth in 3Q 2026, recording a 5.4 per cent increase (2Q 2026: 5.9 per cent), driven by the wholesale and retail trade, information and communication, and finance and insurance sub-sectors.

Meanwhile, on a Friday-to-Friday basis, the ringgit rose against the greenback to 4.0795/0835 from 4.0830/0875 a week earlier.

The local currency traded lower against a basket of other major currencies during the week.

It fell to 4.5911/5956 versus the euro from 4.5807/5858 on the previous Friday, and inched down vis-a-vis the Japanese yen to 2.5831/5895 from 2.5791/5821 and depreciated against the British pound to 5.4396/4449 from 5.4063/4123 a week earlier.

The ringgit traded mostly higher against Asean currencies.

It climbed versus the Singapore dollar to 3.1889/1922 from 3.1896/1934 a week earlier and inched up against the Indonesian rupiah to 226.3/226.6 from 228.1/228.4.

The local note went up against the Philippine peso to 6.48/6.49 from 6.50/6.51, but it depreciated vis-a-vis the Thai baht to 12.2101/2268 from 12.1735/1909 at the end of last week. — Bernama

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受马来西亚2026年第三季度GDP增长预期出乎意料地强劲（5.3%）的提振，预计令吉兑美元汇率将在4.07令吉至4.09令吉之间走强。

马来西亚伊斯兰银行首席经济学家莫哈末·阿夫扎尼扎姆·阿卜杜勒·拉希德博士指出，经济的韧性，特别是服务业的韧性，推动了2026年前九个月累计增长5.5%。

令吉兑美元和其他东盟货币走强，但兑欧元、日元和英镑贬值。

吉隆坡，10 月 17 日讯——受马来西亚 2026 年第三季度国内生产总值 (GDP) 增长预期高于预期的影响，预计下周令吉兑美元汇率将在 4.07 至 4.09 令吉之间窄幅波动，并略有上涨趋势。

马来西亚伊斯兰银行首席经济学家莫哈末·阿夫扎尼扎姆·阿卜杜勒·拉希德博士表示，根据对2026年第三季度的初步估计，马来西亚的GDP增长率高于预期，达到5.3%。

“最新数据显示，马来西亚经济依然相当有韧性，如果全年GDP增​​长率高于目前预测的4.8%至5.3%，也不足为奇；而2026年前九个月（9M 2026）的增长率已经达到5.5%。”他告诉马新社。

马来西亚统计局（DOSM）周五公布的数据显示，马来西亚经济在2026年第三季度增长了5.3%，此前一个季度增长了6.0%。

其对 2026 年第三季度 GDP 的初步预测报告称，除采矿和采石业外，所有经济部门都支撑了经济表现，而采矿和采石业则出现萎缩。

马来西亚统计局指出，2026 年前三个季度，马来西亚经济增长率为 5.5%，高于 2025 年同期的 4.8%。

2026 年第三季度，服务业仍然是经济增长的主要动力，增长了 5.4%（2026 年第二季度：5.9%），这主要得益于批发零售贸易、信息通信以及金融保险等子行业的推动。

与此同时，从周五到周五，令吉兑美元汇率从一周前的 4.0830/0875 上涨至 4.0795/0835。

本周，当地货币兑一篮子主要货币走低。

周五，该货币对欧元汇率从 4.5807/5858 跌至 4.5911/5956；对日元汇率从 2.5791/5821 小幅下跌至 2.5831/5895；对英镑汇率从一周前的 5.4063/4123 贬值至 5.4396/4449。

令吉兑东盟货币大多走强。

兑新加坡元汇率从一周前的 3.1896/1934 升至 3.1889/1922，兑印尼盾汇率从 228.1/228.4 小幅上涨至 226.3/226.6。

马来西亚纸币兑菲律宾比索汇率从6.50/6.51升至6.48/6.49，但兑泰铢汇率则从上周末的12.1735/1909贬值至12.2101/2268。——马来西亚国家通讯社（Bernama）

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