KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 — The ringgit reversed its gains to close lower against the US dollar today as oil prices continued to fall and as China expanded its Covid-19 lockdowns, further spurring concerns on how the world’s second-largest economy will be affected by the constant disruptions.
At 6pm, the local currency fell to 4.4820/4840 against the greenback from Tuesday’s close of 4.4745/4780.
The market was closed on Wednesday for the National Day celebration.
A dealer said China has expanded its Covid-19 lockdowns to include Chengdu, adding to downward pressure on oil prices.
“One of China’s biggest cities, which has 21 million people, will be facing the lockdown to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, which affects oil prices. The lockdown will take place for four days for city-wide mass testing starting today,” he told Bernama.
At the time of writing, the benchmark Brent crude oil price dropped 2.25 per cent to US$93.39 (RM418.48) per barrel.
ActivTrades trader Anderson Alves said the ringgit will also take cues from the US non-farm payroll data tomorrow, with investors waiting to gauge how aggressive the US Federal Reserve monetary policy could be towards year-end.
Meanwhile, the ringgit was traded mostly higher against a basket of major currencies.
The local unit appreciated against the Singapore dollar to 3.2028/2047 from Tuesday’s close of 3.2073/2103, rose against the British pound to 5.1964/1987 from 5.2472/2514, and gained against the Japanese yen to 3.2205/2222 from 3.2335/2363 previously.
However, it depreciated against the euro to 4.4923/4943 from 4.4884/4919 on Tuesday.
— Bernama
