KUALA LUMPUR (May 28): The ringgit opened slightly lower against the US dollar today, as investors returned to safe-haven currencies due to cautious sentiment on the global market, a dealer said.
At 9.05am, the local currency declined to 4.1400/1450 against the greenback from Thursday’s close of 4.1380/1410.
The dealer said investors reacted from the mixed US economic data, with the number of initial jobless claims coming in lower than expected, which was usually bullish for the greenback.
“On the other hand, much weaker-than-expected Pending Home Sales data put the American currency under pressure. Gross domestic product (GDP) data, roughly in line with expectations, failed to clear investors’ doubts over the US economic recovery,” he said.
Meanwhile, the local note traded mostly higher against a basket of major currencies.
The ringgit rose against the Singapore dollar to 3.1245/1288 from Thursday’s close of 3.1258/1293 and strengthened vis-a-vis the euro to 5.0429/0507 from 5.0450/0499.
It also appreciated against the yen to 3.7657/7706 from 3.7890/7925 but weakened against the British pound to 5.8755/8830 from 5.8424/8479.
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