Kuala lumpur: The ringgit eased against major and regional currencies including the US dollar at the close on Friday as investors remain cautious ahead of the United States non-farm payrolls (NFP) report amid renewed escalation in the West Asia conflict. At 6 pm, the ringgit inched down against the US dollar to 3.9185/9230 from 3.9070/9115 at Thursday's close.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid highlighted that the NFP is expected to decline to 65,000 in April based on consensus estimates, compared to 178,000 in March. He noted that the local note softened by 0.31 percent due to the unsettling events in West Asia.

Meanwhile, SPI Asset Management managing partner Stephen Innes attributed the market's cautious sentiment to profit-taking activities following another escalation in the West Asia conflict, which briefly tested risk sentiment. He mentioned that Iranian attacks on US warships transiting the Strait of Hormuz added a fresh layer of caution towards market sentiment.

Innes also noted that despite the tensions, the broader ceasefire narrative remains intact after President Donald Trump continued to signal that the truce is still holding. He expressed that the market still believes in the West Asia conflict de-escalation trade, which may support Asian currencies and regional risk appetite.

However, traders are hesitant to make new investments before the US jobs report release, as a stronger-than-expected number could deter the US Federal Reserve from easing monetary policy, thereby supporting the greenback.

At the close, the ringgit traded lower against a basket of major currencies. It slipped against the Japanese yen to 2.5010/5040 from 2.4982/5013, eased against the British pound to 5.3354/3416 from 5.3202/3263, and fell against the euro to 4.6121/6174 from 4.5978/6031. The local currency also decreased against regional peers, edging down against the Singapore dollar to 3.0910/0948 from 3.0861/0901, depreciating versus the Thai baht to 12.1640/1844 from 12.1486/1687, and remaining unchanged against the Indonesian rupiah at 225.4/225.7. The ringgit was little changed against the Philippine peso at 6.46/6.47 from 6.46/6.48 at the previous close.