Ringgit Opens Firmer Against US Dollar

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13 (Bernama) -- The ringgit opened higher against the US dollar today on better demand. At 9 am, the local unit was traded at 4.4190/4240 against the US dollar from 4.4215/4255 on last Friday's close. A dealer said the improved standing is the result of Bank Negara Malaysia's (Malaysia's Central Bank) measures effective Dec 5, aimed at boosting the ringgit's performance. Against a basket of major currencies, the ringgit traded mixed. Vis-a-vis the Singapore dollar, the ringgit rose to 3.1021/1067 from 3.1067/1100 and against the yen, improved to 3.8379/8450 from 3.8643/8681 last Friday. Compared with the British pound, the local currency weakened to 5.6020/6092 from 5.5768/5832, while against the euro, it fell to 4.7000/7058 from 4.6974/6034. -- BERNAMA