Kuala lumpur: The ringgit ended lower against the US dollar on Friday, as some investors locked in profits following recent gains, amid lingering uncertainty over the timing of potential Malaysia-United States tariff discussions. At 6 pm, the local note eased to 4.2195/2245 against the greenback, compared with Thursday's close of 4.2135/2210. However, the ringgit was firmer against a basket of other major currencies.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, SPI Asset Management's managing partner, Stephen Innes, noted that in the absence of fresh catalysts, investors turned to profit-taking, while the stronger greenback globally left the ringgit more exposed. He highlighted that Japan's recent trade agreement with the US, which included a reduction in auto tariffs from 25 percent to 15 percent, could spark expectations of further bilateral deals, potentially involving Malaysia. "If that happens, it could boost demand for the ringgit," he said.

Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, chief economist at Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd, acknowledged that the ringgit had slipped 0.1 percent to 4.2220 against the greenback as the US Dollar Index rose to 97.621 points, likely reflecting profit-taking after the ringgit's 0.5 percent week-on-week gain.

At the close in Kuala Lumpur, the ringgit strengthened against most major currencies. It rose against the Japanese yen to 2.8529/8565 from 2.8751/8804 on Thursday, appreciated versus the British pound to 5.6786/6853 from 5.7080/7182, and edged higher against the euro to 4.9507/9566 from 4.9517/9605.

Against regional peers, the ringgit was mostly higher, except for a flat performance against the Indonesian rupiah at 258.5/258.9, almost unchanged from 258.5/259.1 previously. It gained against the Singapore dollar at 3.2937/2978 from 3.2995/3057, rose versus the Thai baht to 13.0268/0478 from 13.0570/0863, and firmed against the Philippine peso to 7.38/7.40 from 7.43/7.45.