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Exchange Rates for RM

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Ringgit at new low against Singdollar
S$1 could buy RM2.77 as markets react to strong US data and 1MDB scandal


PUBLISHED ON JUN 9, 2015 2:18 AM

BY CHIA YAN MIN AND STEPHANIE HENG

THE ringgit has dropped to its lowest level in more than 30 years against the Singdollar as markets reacted to strong United States economic data and a scandal at a Malaysian state-backed fund.

One Singdollar could buy about RM2.77 yesterday - the weakest the Malaysian currency has been against the Singdollar since at least 1981.

There is even talk that the currency could slump to the point where one Singdollar buys RM3.

Moneychangers told The Straits Times that there has been an uptick in demand for the currency, which has been battered over the past year amid plunging oil prices.

Malaysia is a major oil exporter, so the slump in oil prices has hit national revenue hard.

The ringgit's latest bout of weakness is due to a number of factors, said Phillip Futures investment analyst Howie Lee.

First, recent robust US economic data has bolstered expectations of an interest rate hike there this year. The critical US non-farm payrolls data, released last Friday, is seen as a key barometer of the world's largest economy and came in better than expected.

The stronger US data prompted an outflow of money from Malaysian markets as investors left in search of higher yields, Mr Lee said. The ringgit fell to a nine-year low against the US dollar yesterday.

Mounting troubles at heavily indebted state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) also contributed to the ringgit's slide, he noted. The fund is under investigation for alleged impropriety in some of its deals, and the situation has cast a pall over Malaysian financial markets.

Analysts say the ringgit could weaken further, given the country's shaky economic fundamentals.

"China may pose further problems to Malaysia as demand for industrial machinery and raw commodities weakens. Malaysia also faces problems of weakening reserves, weak purchasing power, a potential overshoot of budget and high debt foreign ownership," said Mr Lee, who added that the currency might depreciate to RM2.85 or even RM3 against the Singdollar.

Malaysia's April export data, released last Friday, was dragged down by flagging liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments and came in weaker than expected, noted Credit Suisse economist Michael Wan in a research note.

"The full impact of the oil price decline has not filtered through to the trade numbers yet, as LNG prices tend to reflect oil prices with roughly six months' lag," he said, adding that he sees "the fundamentals putting further pressure on the ringgit".

Moneychangers were doing a brisk business in the ringgit yesterday. A staff member of Aliffan Agency at The Arcade in Collyer Quay, who wanted to be known only as Deen, said the shop's stock has sold out every day over the past few days.

When The Straits Times visited at about 4pm yesterday, he said there were long queues in the morning. "We stock about RM1 million daily and our stock has sold out today. However, this high demand is also due to the current holiday season and may decline after that, so for now, we do not plan on increasing our current stock."

Moneychangers said the ringgit has been selling between RM2.71 and RM2.73 to the Singdollar over the past week.

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- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/premium...inst-singdollar-20150609#sthash.iCF729L4.dpuf
 
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