KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia’s benchmark index closed lower today, in line with most regional markets, as investors adjusted their risk exposure amid spiralling oil prices driven by the ongoing West Asia conflict, now in its second month. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) retreated by 24.75 points or 1.44 per cent to 1,687.90 from Friday’s close of 1,712.65. The market bellwether opened 10.57 points weaker at 1,702.08 and fluctuated between 1,682.79 and 1,702.38. The broader market was bearish, with decliners thumping advancers 956 to 371. A total of 373 counters were unchanged, 1,042 untraded and 134 suspended. Turnover expanded to 3.98 billion units worth RM4.85 billion from last Friday’s 2.97 billion units worth RM3.25 billion.
Just the other day, I got the opportunity to talk to two economists, one from UOB and another from AmInvest and they were pretty happy that the Ringgit has stabilized.
The article written was published on The Edge Financial Daily on April 18, 2016 (Monday) but then, today, reality sets in as the oil price plunged after the failure in negotiation between the Saudis and Iran. Here's the reality: Ringgit is still very much tied with the movement of the oil and as long as the supply and demand of the oil failed to reach its equilibrium, the Ringgit's volatility should persist.
After some good run, the Ringgit fell the most in two weeks as Brent crude plunged after major oil producers failed to come up with an agreement to freeze output and address a supply glut.
The disappointment stemming from the weekend meeting in Doha risks reversing a rally in emerging Asia’s best-performing currency this year as a renewed decline in the commodity puts pressure on the government finances of oil-exporting Malaysia. Brent tumbled 2.7 percent to $41.92 a barrel as Iran appeared to be the main stumbling block to an agreement. Hopes a deal would be reached had spurred gains across world markets in recent days and driven Brent above $44 for the first time in four months.
The ringgit fell 0.6 percent to 3.9265 a dollar in Kuala Lumpur after being down as much as 1.5 percent earlier, according to prices from local banks compiled by Bloomberg. That pared its gain this year to 9.3 percent, trailing only Brazil’s real among emerging markets.
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| Ringgit |
After some good run, the Ringgit fell the most in two weeks as Brent crude plunged after major oil producers failed to come up with an agreement to freeze output and address a supply glut.
The disappointment stemming from the weekend meeting in Doha risks reversing a rally in emerging Asia’s best-performing currency this year as a renewed decline in the commodity puts pressure on the government finances of oil-exporting Malaysia. Brent tumbled 2.7 percent to $41.92 a barrel as Iran appeared to be the main stumbling block to an agreement. Hopes a deal would be reached had spurred gains across world markets in recent days and driven Brent above $44 for the first time in four months.
The ringgit fell 0.6 percent to 3.9265 a dollar in Kuala Lumpur after being down as much as 1.5 percent earlier, according to prices from local banks compiled by Bloomberg. That pared its gain this year to 9.3 percent, trailing only Brazil’s real among emerging markets.
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