{
  "id": 5539736,
  "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",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-04T10:37:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "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: The Malaysian ringgit closed lower against the US dollar on Friday, amid ongoing debate about potential interest rate hikes in the United States. As the market keeps a close eye on the Federal Open Market Committee meeting, which is set for September 15 and 16, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) has kept interest rates steady so far in 2026. Yet, remarks by Fed chair Kevin Warsh during the Jackson Hole symposium have fueled expectations of a rate hike this month.\n\nAt 6pm, the ringgit was trading at 4.0425/4.0465 against the US dollar, a slight decline from yesterday's close of 4.0405/4.0445. Despite market uncertainties, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Afzanizam Abdul Rashid noted that the ringgit remained relatively stable.\n\nLooking at the ringgit's performance against major currencies, it slipped against the euro, moving from 4.6894/4.6940 yesterday to 4.6962/4.7008. The local currency also weakened against the British pound, dropping from 5.4539/5.4593 to 5.4663/5.4717. Similarly, the ringgit depreciated against the Japanese yen, going from 2.5838/2.5865 to 2.5832/2.5860.\n\nIn regional markets, the ringgit was mostly lower compared to other currencies. It inched up slightly against the Philippine peso, trading at 6.45/6.46 from yesterday's 6.46/6.47. However, the local note declined against the Singapore dollar, moving from 3.1850/3.1884 to 3.1888/3.1923. The ringgit also fell against the Thai baht, moving from 12.2421/12.2598 to 12.2693/12.2863, and was lower against the Indonesian rupiah, slipping from 228.5/228.8 to 229.1/229.4 at yesterday's close.",
  "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",
        "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."
}