{
  "id": 6412356,
  "title": "Ringgit ends easier against US dollar as Middle East conflict weighs on sentiment",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/ringgit-ends-easier-against-us-dollar-as-middle-east-conflict-weighs",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T10:44:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/business/economy/2026/09/1529169/ringgit-ends-easier-against-us-dollar-middle-east-conflict-weighs"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit weakened against the US dollar on Wednesday as uncertainty surrounding the Middle East conflict impacted market sentiment, according to Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, chief economist of Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd. At 6pm, the local currency dropped to 4.0670/0720 against the greenback, down from Tuesday's close of 4.0605/0640. Brent crude prices reached the US$100 mark amid ongoing tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran, raising concerns over potential disruptions to Gulf crude oil supplies and subsequent inflationary pressures. This could prompt a more hawkish stance from the US Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan next week. The upcoming US Consumer Price Index (CPI) figure, released on Friday, will be crucial for gauging inflation trends. Dr Afzanizam noted that consensus forecasts anticipate headline inflation at 3.4% for August (July: 3.4%), while core CPI is expected to be 2.4% (July: 2.5%). The ringgit also slipped against major currencies, falling against the euro, British pound, Japanese yen, Philippine peso, Singapore dollar, Thai baht, and Indonesian rupiah.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit ended easier against the US dollar on Wednesday, as market sentiment remained cautious amid an evolving outlook in Middle East, said an economist.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Oil rises past $100 a barrel after the latest wave of Middle East attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/oil-rises-past-100-a-barrel-after-the-latest-wave-of-middle-east-6404053",
        "published": "2026-09-09T09:12:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Oil rises past $100 a barrel after the latest wave of Middle East attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/oil-rises-past-100-a-barrel-after-the-latest-wave-of-middle-east",
        "published": "2026-09-09T09:23:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Ringgit eases as Middle East conflict weighs on sentiment",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/ringgit-eases-as-middle-east-conflict-weighs-on-sentiment",
        "published": "2026-09-09T10:29:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Oil rises past $100 a barrel after the latest wave of Middle East attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/oil-rises-past-100-a-barrel-after-the-latest-wave-of-middle-east-6463172",
        "published": "2026-09-09T19:35:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}