{
  "id": 15832536,
  "title": "Ringgit opens higher on strong domestic economic data",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/ringgit-opens-higher-on-strong-domestic-economic-data-15832536",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T00:21:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2026/10/21/ringgit-opens-higher-on-strong-domestic-economic-data"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian ringgit commenced the trading day on a bullish note against the US dollar on Wednesday, buoyed by a series of positive domestic economic indicators that heightened prospects of a potential normalization of the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR). By 8am, the ringgit had strengthened to trade at 4.0795/4.0850 against the greenback, marking an improvement from the previous close of 4.0805/4.0845. Afzanizam Rashid, the chief economist at Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd, attributed this favorable movement to robust economic data, particularly export growth and GDP expansion, which bolstered the local currency's prospects. \"The strong economic indicators have raised the probability of an OPR normalisation. The latest trade figures revealed that exports surged by 54.5% in September, while the GDP expanded by 5.3% in the third quarter of 2026, surpassing market expectations,\" Afzanizam explained. Additionally, Afzanizam pointed out that reduced expectations of an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve in their October meeting contributed to a 0.27% decline in the US Dollar Index (DXY) to 101.707 points, further aiding the ringgit's recovery. Initially, the ringgit exhibited mixed performance against a range of major currencies. It marginally increased against the Japanese yen, reaching 2.5772/2.5809 from 2.5803/2.5830 at Tuesday's close, but experienced a decline against the British pound, settling at 5.4551/5.4625 from 5.4475/5.4528. The local currency also saw a slight decrease against the euro, trading at 4.5796/4.5858 from 4.5771/4.5816. However, its performance varied against Asean currencies; it remained relatively stable against the Indonesian rupiah at 226.7/227.1, while it showed a modest increase against the Philippine peso at 6.46/6.48. Conversely, the ringgit experienced a slight depreciation against the Thai baht, dropping to 12.1341/12.1577 from 12.1241/12.1411, and a marginal fall against the Singapore dollar, trading at 3.1918/3.1964 from 3.1914/3.1950.",
  "summary": "The local note strengthens to 4.0795/4.0850 amid expectations of a possible normalisation of the Overnight Policy Rate.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Ringgit opens higher on strong domestic economic data",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/ringgit-opens-higher-on-strong-domestic-economic-data",
        "published": "2026-10-21T00:20:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Ringgit opens higher on strong domestic economic data",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/ringgit-opens-higher-on-strong-domestic-economic-data-15832799",
        "published": "2026-10-21T00:21:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}