{
  "id": 7918527,
  "title": "Ringgit opens slightly lower after hawkish FOMC outcome",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/ringgit-opens-slightly-lower-after-hawkish-fomc-outcome",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-17T00:52:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2026/09/17/ringgit-opens-slightly-lower-after-hawkish-fomc-outcome"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian ringgit slipped against the US dollar on Thursday following a hawkish decision from the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting the night before. At 8am, the local currency slipped to 4.0855/4.0910 against the greenback from Tuesday’s closing rate of 4.0835/4.0880. In a move marking the first interest rate increase since 2023, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) lifted its benchmark rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.75% to 4.00%. Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Afzanizam Rashid attributed the ringgit's decline to the FOMC's staunch stance, indicating a more restrictive monetary policy to achieve price stability. Afzanizam noted that the Fed chair's comments during his press conference suggested a continued emphasis on price stability. The quarterly projection from Fed staff also indicated further rate hikes throughout the year. As a result, the ringgit is anticipated to trade lower against the US dollar today, possibly settling around the 4.08 to 4.10 range.",
  "summary": "The local currency eases to 4.0855/4.0910 after the US Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Ringgit opens slightly lower after hawkish FOMC outcome",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/ringgit-opens-slightly-lower-after-hawkish-fomc-outcome-7920959",
        "published": "2026-09-17T00:52:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Ringgit opens slightly lower vs US dollar after hawkish FOMC outcome",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/ringgit-opens-slightly-lower-vs-us-dollar-after-hawkish-fomc-outcome",
        "published": "2026-09-17T01:11:11.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}