The ringgit opened slightly higher against the US dollar on Thursday, amid weaker-than-expected US economic data and tariff uncertainty.
At 10.15am, the ringgit was at 4.2370 against the US dollar from 4.2435 at the close on Wednesday.
Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Chief Economist Afzanizam Rashid said the US Dollar Index (DXY) fell 0.44% to 98.787 points, following the economic indicators that surprised with a decline.
He said the US Institute for Supply Management (ISM) index for the services sector fell below the 50-point threshold to 49.9 in May, missing the consensus estimate of 52.0 points.
He added that the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on June 16-17 would be another important event, as US Fed officials would release their latest macroeconomic forecasts for the next three years.
At the open, the ringgit traded lower against a basket of major currencies.
It fell against the Japanese yen to 2.9705/2.9767 from Wednesday's close of 2.9444/2.9486, fell against the euro to 4.8428/4.8525 from 4.8300/4.8362, and eased against the British pound to 5.7466/5.7581 from 5.7427/5.7502 previously.
The local currency also traded mostly lower against its Asean peers.
It was unchanged against the Philippine peso at 7.60/7.62, unchanged from its close on Wednesday.
However, the ringgit declined against the Singapore dollar to 3.2973/3.304 from 3.2906/3.2951 at yesterday's close, weakened against the Thai baht to 13.0132/13.0493 from 12.9679/12.9911, and depreciated against the rupiah at 260.2/260.8 from 260.4/260.8 previously.
