The ringgit is, however, traded mostly higher against a basket of major currencies

THE ringgit extended its weaknesses in the early session against the US dollar today amid a lack of fresh catalysts.

At 9.39am, the local currency stood at 4.4860/4890 against the greenback from yesterday’s close of 4.4855/4870.

ActivTrades trader Dyogenes Rodrigues Diniz said the recent bullish move has pushed the US dollar up to its 2020 high against the ringgit, at 4.4500, and is now heading towards the 2017 high of 4.5000.

“Investors will have a better view of the market after the release of the US New Home Sales data for the month of July (forecast 575,000), which should provide a snapshot of the US real estate sector,” he said.

From a technical standpoint, due to the major bullish movement over the past few months, it is possible that US dollar/ringgit will make a bearish retracement over the next few weeks, said Diniz.

“The main resistance point on the daily chart is at 4.5000, which is close to the all-time high on US dollar/ringgit. If the rate breaks below 4.4700, there could be room for a bigger pullback towards the 4.3600 regions within a few weeks,” he added.

Meanwhile, the ringgit was traded mostly higher against a basket of major currencies.

The local note appreciated against the euro to 4.4595/4625 from 4.4886/4901 at yesterday’s close and strengthened against the British pound to 5.2805/2836 from 5.2947/2965 yesterday.

It also improved vis-a-vis the Japanese yen to 3.2661/2685 from 3.2786/2800 yesterday but slipped against the Singapore dollar to 3.2182/2129 from 3.2147/2163. — Bernama