Ringgit extends gains against US dollar as traders reassess Fed rate outlook

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 — The ringgit extended its gains to close higher against the US dollar today as traders reassessed the possibility of an interest rate hike by the US Federal Reserve (Fed), an analyst said.

The Fed decided to keep the benchmark interest rate steady at 3.75 per cent to 4.00 per cent on Oct 28.

At 6 pm, the ringgit rose to 4.0555/0600 against the greenback from yesterday’s close of 4.0575/0620.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the dollar-ringgit was seen to be at around RM4.0425 during the morning session but later moved towards RM4.0577, giving a 0.05 per cent gain against the dollar.

“It appears that traders are reassessing the likelihood of a rate hike, which has led to lower US Dollar Index (DXY) by 0.32 per cent to 101.710 points,” he told Bernama.

Against major currencies, the ringgit eased against the British pound to 5.4461/4522 from 5.4009/4069 at Thursday’s close, slid against the euro to 4.5413/5464 from 4.5176/5226, and weakened vis-a-vis the Japanese yen to 2.5782/5812 from 2.5685/5715 previously.

The ringgit was also mostly lower against its Asean peers.

It gained vis-a-vis the Indonesian rupiah to 223.4/223.8 from yesterday’s close of 223.7/224.0, but slipped against the Singapore dollar to 3.1753/1791 from 3.1665/1702 previously.

It also lost against the Thai baht to 12.0373/0561 from 12.0165/0345 at yesterday’s close, and inched down vis-a-vis the Philippine peso at 6.36/6.37 from 6.35/6.36 previously. — Bernama

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吉隆坡，10月30日讯——一位分析师表示，由于交易员重新评估美联储加息的可能性，令吉兑美元汇率今日延续涨势，收盘走高。

10月28日，美联储决定将基准利率维持在3.75%至4.00%之间。

下午 6 点，令吉兑美元汇率从昨天的收盘价 4.0575/0620 上涨至 4.0555/0600。

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·拉希德表示，美元兑令吉汇率在早盘交易时段约为 4.0425 令吉，但随后向 4.0577 令吉走高，对美元上涨了 0.05%。

“交易员们似乎正在重新评估加息的可能性，这导致美元指数（DXY）下跌0.32%，至101.710点，”他告诉马新社。

令吉兑主要货币汇率走弱，兑英镑汇率从周四收盘时的 5.4009/4069 跌至 5.4461/4522，兑欧元汇率从 4.5176/5226 跌至 4.5413/5464，兑日元汇率从之前的 2.5685/5715 跌至 2.5782/5812。

令吉兑东盟其他主要货币也大多走低。

兑印尼盾汇率从昨日收盘价 223.7/224.0 上涨至 223.4/223.8，但兑新加坡元汇率从之前的 3.1665/1702 下跌至 3.1753/1791。

马币兑泰铢汇率也从昨日收盘价12.0165/0345跌至12.0373/0561，兑菲律宾比索汇率也从之前的6.35/6.36小幅下跌至6.36/6.37。——马新社

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