{
  "id": 2053360,
  "title": "Ringgit opens higher as US debt concerns weigh on greenback",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/ringgit-opens-higher-as-us-debt-concerns-weigh-on-greenback",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-20T00:56:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2026/08/20/ringgit-opens-higher-as-us-debt-concerns-weigh-on-greenback/231978"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 — The ringgit began the day on a positive note against the US dollar, buoyed by worries over escalating US government debt, according to Dr Mohd Afzanizam, Chief Economist at Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd. At 8 am, the local currency was trading at 4.0455/0540 against the US dollar, improving from yesterday's close of 4.0565/0610. Public debt outstanding had surged past the $40 trillion mark, a third increase in under five years, capturing the attention of the US Treasury Department. Dr Afzanizam stated that if the US Federal Reserve (Fed) were to raise interest rates in the near future, it could exacerbate the US government's debt repayment challenges, consequently weakening the US dollar. This scenario is favorable for the ringgit, as the interest rate differentials between the Fed Funds Rate and the overnight policy rate would remain stable. The economist forecasts the ringgit to trade within a range of RM4.04 to RM4.06 against the US dollar today. Initially, the local currency showed a downward trend against other major currencies, falling against the Japanese yen and British pound, as well as the euro and regional currencies like the Singapore dollar and Thai baht. However, it strengthened against the Indonesian rupiah and Philippine peso.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 — The ringgit opened higher against the US dollar today as concerns over the rising US govern...",
  "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."
}