Kuala Lumpur:The ringgit ended slightly higher against the US dollar today following a day of cautious, range-bound trading, with global market sentiment remaining uncertain.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the ringgit improved to 4.0820/4.0870 against the greenback by 6 pm, compared to Thursday's close of 4.0830/4.0875. Dr. Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, chief economist at Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd, noted that the ringgit traded within a tight range, fluctuating between RM4.0830 and RM4.0887.

The local currency gained strength during the afternoon session, reaching around RM4.0843 against the US dollar, after starting at RM4.0888 in the morning. Dr. Mohd Afzanizam attributed the cautious market sentiment to higher global bond yields and increased demand for the US dollar, driven by higher crude oil prices and robust US economic data. Despite these challenges, the ringgit demonstrated resilience amid global uncertainties.

In trading against a basket of major currencies, the ringgit showed mixed results. It appreciated against the euro to 4.5927/5983 from the previous 4.6015/6066, while it depreciated against the British pound to 5.3927/3993 from 5.3896/3955. Against the Japanese yen, it weakened to 2.5906/5941 from 2.5781/5811.

The ringgit also eased against ASEAN currencies, slipping against the Singapore dollar to 3.1908/1952 from 3.1856/1894 and decreasing against the Thai baht to 12.1579/1778 from 12.1111/1294. Additionally, it fell against the Philippine peso to 6.52/6.54 from 6.50/6.51 and dropped against the Indonesian rupiah to 228.2/228.6 from 227.2/227.6.