Singdollar hits 10-month high against MYR; analysts still bullish on ringgit

The Singapore dollar surged to a 10-month high against the Malaysian ringgit on Wednesday, September 9, driven by macroeconomic factors and the Singdollar's reputation as a safe haven during global uncertainty. The exchange rate between the two currencies reached as high as 3.2204 ringgit, the highest level since November 2025, according to Bloomberg data.

Maybank's Maybank Saktiandi Supaat noted that the Singdollar's resilience amid global uncertainty underpins the recent upward trend. Bank of Singapore's Christopher Wong explained that the ringgit's weakness is likely a near-term market adjustment rather than a shift in Malaysia's fundamentals, as higher oil prices, stronger US Treasury yields, and risk-off sentiment weigh on regional currencies, including the ringgit.

Global funds have also pulled US$122 million in Malaysian stocks in September, following a US$486 million outflow in the previous month. Maybank's Supaat highlighted the Monetary Authority of Singapore's exchange rate framework, which provides a policy anchor for the currency, and speculated that positive sentiment towards Singapore equities may also be contributing to its strength.

The ringgit may gain from Malaysia's artificial intelligence-driven growth, leading Bank Negara Malaysia to extend its interest rate pause for a seventh consecutive decision, keeping the overnight policy rate (OPR) at 2.75 percent. OCBC's Wong suggested that profit-taking after the ringgit's earlier gains may be adding to the rally, and that domestic fundamentals remain relatively supportive.

He noted that near-term pressure could persist if global yields remain elevated and bond-market sentiment remains soft, but he does not view this as the start of a sustained MYR depreciation trend.