Kuala lumpur: The ringgit opened higher against the US dollar on Friday, tracking the firmer performance of regional currencies despite the continued strength of the greenback. At 8 am, the local note stood at 4.1865/2100 against the greenback compared with Thursday's close of 4.1945/1995. However, at 8.09 am, the ringgit had eased to 4.2005/2105.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid indicated that the ringgit was expected to trade within the RM4.19 to RM4.21 range as profit-taking activities may emerge following the stronger performance of the US Dollar Index (DXY). "The DXY was up 0.49 per cent to 97.348 points, supported by record highs in US equities, while US Treasury yields declined," he told Bernama.

He noted that on Thursday, the ringgit had depreciated by 0.21 per cent against the greenback to RM4.197, staying below the RM4.20 psychological level, although it briefly touched RM4.2013 during mid-day. At the opening, the ringgit was higher against a basket of major currencies.

It strengthened versus the Japanese yen at 2.8297/8457 from 2.8484/8520 at Thursday's close, improved to 5.6744/7062 against the British pound from 5.7238/7306, and was higher vis-a-vis the euro to 4.9355/9632 from 4.9654/9714 previously.