The ringgit remained firm against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday, supported by the decline in the US Dollar Index (DXY) which declined 0.91% to 106.036 points.
The latest US inflation data component released showed that the US core Personal Consumer Expenditures (PCE) figure rose 2.8% for October from 2.7% in September, indicating continued soft inflation in the US.
At 10.10am, the ringgit was at 4.4350, up 0.11% against the USD from its close of 4.4440 at the end of Wednesday's trade.
Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Chief Economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the ringgit strengthened against the US dollar, rising from RM4.4855 in mid-November to RM4.4432 yesterday.
He opined that the ringgit could continue to strengthen even though the outlook remains uncertain amid improving US economic data.
US rates are expected to remain stable with the employment situation remaining strong as reflected by the decline in the four-week moving average of initial jobless claims.
Meanwhile, the ringgit traded mostly lower against a basket of major currencies.
It eased against the British pound to 5.6186/6345 from 5.5962/6044 and eased against the euro to 4.6812/6944 from 4.6691/6759 yesterday.
However, the currency rose against the Japanese yen to 2.9288/9375 from 2.9311/9356.
The local unit was also mixed against Asean currencies.
It rose slightly against the Singapore dollar to 3.3054/3152 from 3.3055/3106 and rose against the Philippine peso to 7.55/7.57 from 7.56/7.57.
However, it depreciated against the Thai baht to 12.8348/8803 from 12.8342/8597 and was almost unchanged against the Indonesian rupiah to 278.1/279.0 from 278.6/279.1 previously.
