Ringgit gains against US dollar as regional currency performance varies
Malaysia’s economy grew 5.3 per cent in the third quarter of 2026, while an economist said fiscal policy helped support the currency.
The ringgit ended higher against the US dollar, with the 6pm exchange rate at 4.0790/0825 compared with 4.0805/0845 at Tuesday’s close. Malaysia’s currency also gained against the Japanese yen and euro, although it lost ground against the British pound.
Fiscal discipline and the expansionary stance of Budget 2027 helped underpin the currency, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid told Bernama. Advance estimates issued by the Department of Statistics Malaysia on October 16 showed third-quarter economic growth of 5.3 per cent in 2026, compared with 6.0 per cent in the preceding quarter.
The closing yen rate was 2.5790/5814, against Tuesday’s 2.5803/5830. For the euro, the ringgit edged higher to 4.5770/5810, compared with 4.5771/5816. Sterling moved in the opposite direction, with the ringgit falling to 5.4642/4689 against 5.4475/4528.
Among regional currencies, the rupiah and peso weakened against the ringgit. The Indonesian rupiah rate reached 226.2/226.7, compared with 226.8/227.1, while the Philippine peso rate was 6.44/6.45, against 6.47/6.48.
The ringgit’s losses against the Singapore dollar took its rate to 3.1917/1947, compared with 3.1914/1950. It also weakened against the Thai baht, ending at 12.1287/1434 versus the previous close of 12.1241/1411.
