{
  "id": 1838920,
  "title": "Ringgit rallies against US dollar as Fed rate hike hopes dims",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/ringgit-rallies-against-us-dollar-as-fed-rate-hike-hopes-dims",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-19T00:47:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2026/08/19/ringgit-rallies-against-us-dollar-as-fed-rate-hike-hopes-dims/231840"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The ringgit opened higher against the US dollar, supported by expectations that a US Federal Reserve interest rate hike at its September meeting is less likely. At 8 am, the local currency strengthened to 4.0565/0625 against the greenback from Tuesday’s close of 4.0575/0615, according to Malay Mail.\n\nBank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam, cited by Malay Mail, and Afzanizam Rashid, cited by Free Malaysia Today, said the focus now will be on the Federal Open Market Committee minutes, which will be released that day. The market will seek affirmation that the Fed is not in a hurry to tighten its monetary stance.\n\nThe ringgit's exchange rate was reported as 4.0565/4.0625 against the US dollar by Free Malaysia Today, slightly differing from Malay Mail's 4.0565/0625, and Tuesday's close was 4.0575/4.0615 and 4.0575/0615 respectively.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}