Kuala lumpur: The ringgit opened higher against the US dollar amid cautious market sentiment ahead of the upcoming United States Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on September 15-16, 2026. At 8 am, the local currency edged up to 4.0630/0730 against the greenback from last Friday's close of 4.0685/0725.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid noted that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) interest rate decision on September 18 is also influencing market sentiment. He mentioned that the prevailing conditions surrounding crude oil prices suggest inflationary pressures could stay elevated, with Brent crude now hovering at US$107 per barrel.

Dr. Rashid highlighted the East-West oil pipeline shutdown by the Saudi government and the postponement of a meeting between Iran and the Gulf states as indications of the vulnerability of oil supplies from West Asia. In the meantime, he stated that a risk-off mode is set to dominate market sentiments. "On that note, the ringgit is expected to trade between RM4.07 and RM4.08 today," he added.

At the opening, the ringgit traded mixed against a basket of major currencies. It strengthened against the euro to 4.7106/7222 from Friday's 4.7178/7225 and rose against the British pound to 5.4952/5087 from 5.4961/5015, but was lower vis- -vis the Japanese yen at 2.6478/6545 from 2.6400/6428 previously.

The ringgit also traded higher against ASEAN currencies. It strengthened against the Singapore dollar to 3.2060/2144 from 3.2091/2125, appreciated against the Thai baht to 12.2731/3092 from 12.3072/3241, and rose against the Indonesian rupiah to 230.7/231.3 from 231.0/231.3 previously. It inched up against the Philippine peso to 6.48/6.50 from 6.49/6.50 at Friday's close.