KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit slipped against the US dollar at the opening today, as the greenback strengthened on a better US jobless claims report, dealers said.
At 9am, the local currency was quoted at 4.1430/1480 against the greenback, from Thursday's close of 4.1420/1450.
Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said US jobless claims were better than expected, as they fell to 881,000 compared with the 950,000 as estimated by analysts.
The ringgit also traded lower against other major currencies.
It dropped against the Singapore dollar to 3.0363/0404 from Thursday's 3.0351/0380, and was lower against the yen at 3.9037/9088 from 3.8929/8968 yesterday.
The ringgit depreciated against the British pound to 5.5027/5098 from 5.4981/5037 yesterday, and fell against the euro to 4.9115/9187 from 4.8967/9015. - BERNAMA