KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 3): The ringgit opened marginally higher against the US dollar on the first trading day of 2023, as China’s reopening and anticipation for less aggressive interest rate hikes in the US boosted buying support, dealers said.

At 9am on Tuesday (Jan 3), the local note traded at 4.3965/4050 versus the US dollar, from 4.3995/4095 at the close last Friday.

The ringgit was closed on Monday for the New Year replacement holiday.

SPI Asset Management managing director Stephen Innes said the local note rallied on Tuesday morning, as buying flows on China’s reopening continued to help Asian foreign exchange.

“Even though China's economy could remain weak in the short term, the market is likely to look through this downswing in anticipation of more stimulus policies. 

“The ringgit could see a good week on the prospect of more support for China's economy,” he told Bernama, adding that the ringgit is expected to trade between 4.38 and 4.41 throughout this week.

Meanwhile, Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd chief economist Firdaos Rosli said as the US Federal Reserve (Fed) is committed to cooling the labour market, the December non-farm payroll could be the main catalyst for the next direction.

“If the reading remains solid, it would prompt the central bank to take action to break the tight job situation, prolonging the bear market,” he told Bernama.

He said the unveiling of the latest Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes would draw attention, as investors search for clues about the price pressure movement, aside from recession fears, due to the aggressive rate hikes globally.

“Notwithstanding the International Monetary Fund’s statement that a third of the global economy will face a recession this year, the Fed may likely pivot as early as the second quarter of 2023. 

“As such, we foresee the ringgit to trade between 4.39 and 4.41 [against the US dollar] this week,” he added.