Kuala Lampur:The ringgit began the day marginally lower against the US dollar, trading within a narrow range in response to mixed global market cues.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the ringgit eased to 4.0840/0885 against the US dollar from the previous day's close of 4.0835/0880 at 8 am. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd's chief economist, Dr. Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, noted that the 0.33 percent decline in the US Dollar Index to 101.833, along with Brent crude prices near US$100 per barrel, offered some support for the ringgit. He added that positive global equities driven by optimism over corporate earnings contributed to stronger market sentiment. This improved risk appetite among traders is currently supporting the ringgit.

The ringgit also showed varied performance against major currencies at the opening. It weakened against the British pound, falling to 5.4174/4234 from 5.4066/4125, and against the euro, dipping to 4.5949/6000 from 4.5907/5957. However, it gained strength against the Japanese yen, moving to 2.5794/5824 from 2.5807/5837.

In terms of regional currencies, the ringgit mostly traded lower. It dipped against the Thai baht to 12.1439/1627 from 12.1424/1609 and against the Singapore dollar to 3.1956/1994 from 3.1935/1975. The local currency remained unchanged against the Philippine peso at 6.50/6.51 and was nearly flat against the Indonesian rupiah at 228.1/228.5.