Ringgit edges lower against US dollar despite stronger trade data
September inflation slowed to 1.8 per cent, while Malaysia’s total trade rose 53.7 per cent from a year earlier.
Malaysia’s ringgit ended trading on 19 October 2026 slightly weaker versus the US dollar, despite gains against other major currencies following improved domestic economic figures. The dollar exchange rate stood at 4.0805/0845 at 6pm, compared with 4.0795/0835 at the preceding Friday close.
The Department of Statistics Malaysia reported total trade of RM396.5 billion, up 53.7 per cent year on year from RM258.1 billion. Its September inflation reading was 1.8 per cent, against August’s 1.9 per cent.
Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, chief economist at Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd, told Bernama that external pressures had not undermined the ringgit’s resilience. He pointed to MSCI’s possible reclassification of Indonesia’s equity market to standalone status from emerging-market status, but said currency spillovers across the region had so far been limited.
Among major currencies, the ringgit’s yen rate moved to 2.5790/5817, versus 2.5831/5895 previously. It also gained against the euro, recording 4.5726/5771 rather than 4.5911/5956, and against sterling, at 5.4369/4422 compared with 5.4396/4449. Regional gains extended to the rupiah, peso, Singapore dollar and baht.
