{
  "id": 5538974,
  "title": "Ringgit ends lower against greenback as US rate hike debate persists",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/ringgit-ends-lower-against-greenback-as-us-rate-hike-debate-persists",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-04T10:37:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2026/09/04/ringgit-ends-lower-against-greenback-as-us-rate-hike-debate-persists"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: On Friday, the Malaysian ringgit ended lower against the US dollar amid ongoing discussions about potential interest rate hikes in the United States. The market remains vigilant as the Federal Open Market Committee meeting approaches, set for September 15 and 16. Although the US Federal Reserve has maintained interest rates at zero throughout 2026, remarks from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh at the Jackson Hole symposium have raised the possibility of a rate increase this month. At 6 PM, the ringgit was trading at 4.0425/4.0465 against the US dollar, slightly weaker than the previous close of 4.0405/4.0445.\n\nDespite market uncertainties, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Afzanizam Abdul Rashid noted that the ringgit remained relatively stable. However, it did experience a decline against other major currencies. Against the euro, the ringgit fell to 4.6962/4.7008 from yesterday's 4.6894/4.6940. Similarly, it declined against the British pound to 5.4663/5.4717 from 5.4539/5.4593. The local currency also weakened against the Japanese yen, moving from 2.5838/2.5865 to 2.5832/2.5860.\n\nThe ringgit's weakness was evident in its performance against regional currencies as well. It dropped against the Philippine peso from 6.46/6.47 to 6.45/6.46 and against the Singapore dollar from 3.1884 to 3.1888/3.1923. It also declined against the Thai baht from 12.2421/12.2598 to 12.2693/12.2863 and dropped against the Indonesian rupiah from 228.5/228.8 to 229.1/229.4.",
  "summary": "The local currency was fairly stable despite market uncertainties, says analyst.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Ringgit ends lower against greenback as US rate hike debate persists",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/ringgit-ends-lower-against-greenback-as-us-rate-hike-debate-persists-5539736",
        "published": "2026-09-04T10:37:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Ringgit ends lower against US dollar as US rate hike debate persists",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/ringgit-ends-lower-against-us-dollar-as-us-rate-hike-debate-persists",
        "published": "2026-09-04T10:44:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}