KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened slightly lower against the US dollar for a third consecutive day on subdued sentiment amid a weaker yuan, said a dealer.
Axi Trader Asia-Pacific market strategist Stephen Innes said the weaker yuan on the back of the negative trade war has weakened the ringgit, which is now in the range of a critical 4.20 level.
At 9.05am, the local note was at 4.1950/1980 against the greenback from Tuesday’s close of 4.1920/1950.
“The overall international focus remains squarely on the trade talks, and if they end in a contentious affair, the yuan could weaken towards the 4.20 level, which should be sufficient enough to pull the local note towards the 4.21-22 level against the greenback,” he told Bernama.
However, Innes said Budget 2020 are keeping local investors appetite in check.
Meanwhile, the local unit traded mostly higher against other major currencies.
It rose against the Singapore dollar to 3.0355/0381 from 3.0381/0407 but versus the Japanese yen, fell to 3.9169/9008 from 3.9148/9187.
The ringgit strengthened against the British pound to 5.1246/1287 from 5.1327/1380 and appreciated vis-a-vis the euro to 4.5960/6010 from 4.6058/6107.